A not-so-Broad bat

A while back, I noted how cricketers who are widely-regarded as allrounders, or almost all-rounders, in their formative years, usually lose their mojo in one form of the game. Anyone remember Mike Atherton’s leg spin? Mark Butcher’s lively fast-medium?

With Butcher, as with many others, the cause was injury, but this is certainly not the case with Stuart Broad. Only a year ago, Broad was the first Englishman to be granted the title of ‘The New Freddie’. Now, with bat in hand, he looks like a more stylish Monty Panesar, but without the ability to get off the mark by edging through the slips.

In fact, in the series just finished against the Aussies, Broad took more wickets than he scored runs.

Freddie made his debut six years after Botham’s retirement. Don’t be surprised if we have to wait at least the same time again before another allrounder worthy of the name comes on the scene.