England’s veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad has opened up over his alleged rift with former Test skipper Joe Root. Notably, Broad and senior pacer James Anderson were left out of the three-Test series against West Indies earlier this year following the English side’s horror show in the Ashes down under. Since then, the speculations kept rising that not all is well between Broad and Root.
The Caribbean tour ended in a 1-0 defeat for England, and as a result, Root stepped down as captain. Broad and Anderson then returned to the Test side under a new captain, Ben Stokes, and coach Brendon McCullum, for the ongoing red-ball series against New Zealand.
Now, Broad has broken his silence on the alleged rift with Root, stating it would be ‘pathetic’ if he were to fall out with the Yorkshire cricketer over being dropped for the tour of the West Indies. The Nottinghamshire speedster made it crystal clear that he and Root are great friends, and it was a privilege playing under the leadership of Root.
“Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain, and I said to him how much he’s meant to me as a captain and what a privilege it was playing under him. I told him I hope he really enjoys the next few years, all that pressure has gone now, he’s already a legend of the game, so he can just go out there and enjoy it,” said Broad, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Joe and I are great friends, and I’ve always been someone who can distinguish between business and pleasure. I can’t fall out with someone because they don’t pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic,” he added.
