Stuart Broad reflected on a perfect start to the fourth Test of Englands Ashes campaign, after bowling Australia out for 60. It was a good morning to bowl, a good toss to win... although I was telling Cookie to bat! admitted Broad.
It was just one of those days you dream of really – home ground, to pick up 300 Test wickets and then get a career-best.
Joe Root (124no) and Jonny Bairstow (74) then carried England to 274-4, perfecting the start of the fourth Test.
A 214 lead after day one is as powerful a performance as Ive been involved in, Broad added. To bowl a team out for 60 is obviously very special. But to then be 270 odd (as well) is an amazing achievement. Its been the perfect day for us, but it all starts again on day two.
Broad was breaking new ground with his best figures in any cricket. My previous-best ever bowling was seven for 12 against Kimbolton School Under-15s, he added. I keep seeing the scoreboard pop up on the TV, or see it on the ground, and it doesnt look real to me.
Its a bit of a freak day. But its what you work hard for, those moments when it all works for you. Its great to have a PB against Australia, one of the best teams in the world.
England kept on taking all the catches after finding the edge again and again. The pitch just offered the perfect amount, said Broad. It wasnt really swinging massively, wasnt seaming loads – I think we got seven edges and only one play-and-miss.
We were brave enough to put six catchers in at one stage – and there were some amazing catches – probably the all-round perfect bowling and fielding performance, backed up with some outstanding batting.
