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Opening bowler hoping to counter lack of spectator noise

‘I perform at my best when the game is most exciting’

Close your eyes and try to imagine some of the great Stuart Broad spells and chances are you’re hearing as well as seeing. The Oval in 2009, the hat-trick against India in 2011, the first morning at Trent Bridge in 2015, Johannesburg in 2016: these are memories built not just on images of floundering batsmen and flailing celebrations, but the noise of a capacity crowd.
Test cricket is a game of soundwaves and Broad surfs them as well as anyone. So what happens when you take the noise away? In the lead-up to the first Test against West Indies, starting a week on Wednesday, England fans will be reassured to know Broad has been giving the matter plenty of thought. Continue reading...