Former Australia captain Ian Chappell was impressed by England fast-bowler Stuart Broad as the manner in which he handled himself after being dropped from the squad for the first Test against West Indies in Southampton last month. England lost the first Test but captured the series following back-to-back wins in Manchester. Broad played pivotal roles in both wins and was duly named as the man of the series.
“In an era of stringent media training Broad was refreshingly honest in an interview following his omission from England’s side for the first Test against West Indies,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo. “He didn’t lambast the selectors he just expressed his disappointment and then proceeded in the next two Tests to display why they were wrong. Any selector worth the title should be delighted at such a positive player reaction to an omission,” he added.
In the third Test in Manchester, Broad became the second Englishman after James Anderson to complete 500 Test wickets.