‘It’s designed for Marnus and Smith’ – Stuart Broad talks up newly-tweaked weapon in Ashes build-up

Broad made his first appearance of the season in Nottinghamshire’s victory over Somerset, claiming two wickets across the match including dismissing Australian batter Cameron Bancroft with a precise out-swinger that knocked back his off-stump.

In Nottinghamshire’s following fixture, against Middlesex at Lord’s, Broad claimed a first innings four-for as Notts bowled Middlesex out for 274. Speaking to reporters after play on day three, Broad talked up the recent development of his away-swinger.

“It’s designed, to be honest, for Marnus [Labuschagne] and [Steve] Smith,” said Broad about his out-swinger. “It’s the reason I wanted to change something, to try and bring their outside edge in more.

“My stock delivery will always be wobble seam trying to nip back on off stump, because I think that’s the most dangerous ball. But to those guys, I think dragging them across with away swing is important. So this action tweak is pretty much designed at those two, and it was good to see it really swinging away today.”

Broad enjoyed an excellent 2019 Ashes series, finishing it with 23 wickets. However his success was lop-sided; 16 of his 23 wickets were of left-handers, and he dismissed the combination of Smith and Labuschagne just twice in the series as he found particular joy with his in-swinger (that moves away from the left-hander). Broad didn’t dismiss Labuschagne during the 2019 series while neither of his dismissals of Smith were with balls that went away from the Australian – his first dismissal was with a full and straight delivery when Smith looked to attack while batting with the tail at Edgbaston while the other was caught at leg slip at The Oval.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Broad has spent time working with Nottinghamshire bowling coach Kevin Shine – who has previously worked with Broad with England – on his away-swinger ahead of the summer.