James Anderson and Stuart Broad on their relationship on and off the field and the special moments that have made the hard yards worth it.
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Ten years ago James Anderson and Stuart Broad walked out at the Basin Reserve in Wellington to play their first Test match together, selected in place of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard to mark a changing of England’s fast-bowling guard.
In the time since they’ve taken their combined tally of Test wickets to 941, becoming the most prolific opening bowling partnership in history.
As England prepare for a two-Test series against Pakistan, starting at Lord’s on May 24, Anderson needs 33 wickets to surpass Glenn McGrath’s record tally for a fast bowler of 563, while Broad sits just behind his partner in crime on England’s all-time wicket-taking charts.
In a wide-ranging interview, Broad also looks back on an awkward first meeting with Anderson in 2005 – “We definitely didn’t speak to each other because you’re not exactly the most socially friendly bloke with people you don’t know!” – and each recalls the best spell they’ve seen the other bowl. “The best I’ve seen Stu bowl was in the 2009 Ashes at The Oval – cleaned them up good and proper,” says Anderson. “Seriously good balls to seriously good players.”
