Stuart Broad hopes his three-wicket haul in the final Test against South Africa can help establish him as one of England's front-line seamers in the future.
The 22-year-old Nottinghamshire bowler claimed three for 44 in the tourists' second innings, only the second haul of two wickets or more in his Test career, as England dismissed their opponents for 318, despite AB de Villiers determined 97, to set up a victory target of 197 for today's final day at the Brit Oval.
It was an encouraging comeback from Broad after he claimed only 10 wickets in his previous five Tests this summer, prompting the selectors to give him a rest for last week's third match at Edgbaston.
But his two late wickets yesterday as South Africa lost their last three batsmen for five runs have boosted his confidence again as he attempts to develop into one of England's main bowlers.
"In my career I'd like to become a strike bowler and a new-ball bowler for England, but you have to earn that right" said Broad, who has been used as a fourth seamer in a five-man attack during the current Test.
"I'm thoroughly enjoying Test match cricket and hopefully a haul will come at some stage.
"It's stood me in good stead because I think after about 10 one-day internationals I only had about five wickets, and at that time I was thinking about how I was going to get international wickets and after 30 I've got 40-odd now.
"Not getting wickets at the start of my international career is not something I'm panicking about - you learn how to get international wickets and hopefully this is a start that can spur me on."
Broad also believes England's success in breaking South Africa's resistance yesterday has established them as firm favourites to win the final Test in the npower series.
"The wicket was pretty good to bat on," said Broad. "At the Oval with the massive square it's quite a quick-scoring ground and if we get a head start and bat well we should knock off 197."
But South Africa remain confident of their own chances and de Villiers, who batted for nearly four hours for his 97 and shared a 95-run eighth-wicket stand with Paul Harris, claimed: "We have a really good chance.
"The bowlers have not really been where they can be, so this will be a good chance for them to hit their straps and bowl like we know they can.
"If we can pick up a couple of early ones I can't see why we can't push through."
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Winning one test match against South Africa is nothing to boast about. In case you all forgot south Africa won the series. As for Broad he needs to "beef-up" and become more consistent, taking three wickets is in a test where the result was academic PUHLEEZE.
In 2 yrs time we will be saying 'Stuart Who'?He is not quick enough or accurate enough to be a serious test player, and concedes too many runs. His first spell on Sunday morning was dreadful, I don't think he bowled a ball wicket to wicket in 4 overs. He will get absolutely taken apart by the Aussies.
We are all getting carried away with this euphoria because he is one of the rare new additions to the team but he needs to go back to the counties to learn his trade.
I am all for new blood but come on!- he's hardly rattling any ribs is he?
I believe we have got to play Flintoff as an out and out bowler (in place of Broad), introduce another all rounder ( Bopara?), drop Ambrose and Bell, then we might just have time to develop a strong squad for the Ashes.
If we carry on with the underperforming lot we have now, and cling to forlorn hopes that Broad is our saviour then we are in for a real pasting
Rofl, what the hell are you on about, show some pride in england, they wiped the floor with south africa in this match, earned some pride for the team and boosted KP's confidence.
THREE LIONS
Stuart broad is England's finest cricketer , the only one with Modesty and Charisma , but he should try to stop boasting and wait until he acheives positively....In this test match England were lucky to get away with a win...
He will find it extremely hard in the next series of test matches..
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