Responding to Stuart Broad‘s hilarious jab at James Anderson for being grumpy while setting his field, Anderson has said that Broad himself is picky, calling him the ‘most stubborn player’ he has ever played with.
Last month, Broad recalled an instance from England’s trip to West Indies in 2019, when Anderson refused to start bowling in the innings until skipper Joe Root placed his fine leg squarer. “‘I’m not bowling unless you go squarer!'” Broad had quoted Anderson as saying then.
Having heard his new-ball partner spill the beans in the earlier episode, Anderson mentioned on last week’s Sky Sports Cricket Podcast that it was, in fact, Broad who would keep seeking a fielder in the cover position, refusing to bowl until his demand was met.
[breakout id=”0″][/breakout]
“I think I saw a quote from that and he [Broad] mentioned the time when me and Rooty had a fight about where my fine leg was, and I refused to bowl,” Anderson said in the podcast, also featuring Dale Steyn. “But the amount of time where he has refused to bowl without a cover, he’s like ‘Get a cover in, now!’
[breakout id=”1”][/breakout]
“Third slip out and he literally stood there, arms folded, at the end of his mark. I am not bowling until I get a cover!”
Anderson, who has played in 116 Tests together with Broad, added that no there was no match to his obstinacy. “He is definitely the most stubborn player I have ever played with!”
