Stuart Broad should have given Joe Root more support in the middle: Shane Warne

Stuart Broad

Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has criticised England fast bowler Stuart Broad for, not providing top-order batsman Joe Root the support that he needed at the crease in his side’s first innings.

Broad gave his wicket away: Warne

Walking out to bat with his team’s score reading 110 for 7, the 28-year-old’s stay in the middle lasted for a mere 10 minutes as he was caught at mid-off by Daniel Vettori off the bowling of Tim Southee for 4, a mode of dismissal that the 45-year-old former cricketer described as “soft”.

“That’s as soft as it gets,” Warne said while commentating for Fox Sports.

“Really that’s a soft dismissal. Never looked like he was in the game, Stuart Broad,” he added.

“His team needed him to dig in and actually get himself in, hang around with Joe Root, but (he) just gave his wicket away.He could nearly bat (number) 11 now Stuart Broad, that was just embarrassing. Joe Root’s on 40, doing pretty good, you just need to hang in there,” he said.

The former Rajasthan Royals captain also recalled what former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg did when he was once out in a game against the West indies.

“I remember the fast bowler Rodney Hogg getting bowled when he was backing away to the West Indies off a full toss off his pads onto the stumps, and ringing home and saying, ‘Please erase that from the tape, I don’t want my son to know I was a coward’.

“I think Stuart Broad might be on the phone later saying, ‘Please erase that from the tape too – I don’t want to see it again’,” the second highest wicket-taker in Test history said.

Broad should’ve applied himself a bit more in the middle: Richardson

Former Kiwi opening batsman Mark Richardson, who was on commentary with Warne, when Broad fell, agreed with his co-commentator’s views, saying the right-arm pacer should’ve have shown a bit more leadership qualities and should’ve occupied the crease for a longer period of time.

“I’m with you there, Warney. The bloke is a senior player in the side, he’s a leader, and I know he’s not there to bat, but he is, because he does get to bat in the order, and you want something a little bit harder than that.

“You want a little bit of leadership, they haven’t got it, and they’re in further trouble,” he said.

Following that wicket, England could add only 7 more runs to their total and were eventually bundled out for 123 in 33.2 overs. Led by a terrific innings skipper Brendon McCullum, the Black Caps chased down the target in 12.2 overs and with 8 wickets in hand.