GEORGE DOBELL AT THE KIA OVAL: Broad claimed his 564th wicket on the fourth day of the LV= Insurance Test against South Africa, moving above McGrath and into fifth place on the all-time list
Stuart Broad had admitted Glenn McGrath was a much finer bowler than he has ever been despite moving ahead of him on the list of leading wicket-takers.
Broad claimed his 564th wicket on the fourth day of the LV= Insurance Test against South Africa at the Kia Oval, moving above McGrath and into fifth place on the all-time list.
But despite also being the top wicket-taker in the world in Test cricket in 2022, Broad was modest about his achievements and delighted to have become the second most successful seam bowler (in terms of wickets taken) in Test history, after teammate James Anderson.
"Glenn McGrath's a hero of mine and the reason I wanted to become a bowler," Broad said. "I used to imitate him in the garden.
"Obviously he's a much finer bowler than I've ever been, but it's incredible to be up there in that sort of company. And it’s really special to have joined Jimmy Anderson as a one-two with him being a great mate and someone who I've shared a fantastic partnership with for a long time.
"It's really special. I saw Jimmy got his 564th wicket on September 11 four years ago, so that was quite funny."
Broad also admitted he was spurred on, in part, by being omitted from the England side which toured the Caribbean earlier in the year. But he revealed that, after realising that the wobble seam was not going to be as effective this season, he tinkered with his technique in the aim of gaining more swing.
Stuart Broad has moved to fifth in the all-time Test wicket-takers' list [Getty Images]
Broad has surpassed his hero Glenn McGrath on the list [Getty Images]
"I came into the summer really motivated after missing out on the Caribbean," he said. "I had a down patch in March and April, but I always love going back to Nottinghamshire. I found some real enjoyment and love working on my game, changing things and developing. I had some great sessions with Kevin Shine [the Notts bowling coach] and Peter Moores, who has always been a mentor of mine throughout my whole career.
"And once I played a few games for Notts, I knew that I could try and take another step in my bowling. I'm sort of that mind-set that if I'm not working on something in my action and my game delivery I never want to stand still and that actually gives me more energy in training.
"We've had to adapt to the Dukes ball at the start of the summer. The wobble seam delivery was moving a bit slowly off the pitch as the ball was going soft. So I had to try and swing the ball a little bit more because the swing bowlers were the ones who were having a bit more success.
"So I did a little bit of a technical tweak in my action to try and swing the ball a little bit. For the last seven years I just relied on wobble seam, really. So I've tried to eek that into my bowling on the odd occasion but still sticking to my strengths of wobble seam bowling so I feel like I've made a bit of a move as a bowler this summer and kept threatening and kept doing roles for the team when I've needed to.”
"It would be unfair on South Africa if it rained all day tomorrow and we'd carried on just to finish the game tonight"
Such was the success and enjoyment he has had this summer, Broad suggested he was inclined to continue his career into 2023 and to the home Ashes series that awaits. And while he insisted he was happy with his new role of first change seamer, he did hint he might fancy his chances with the new ball if David Warner returned.
"Yes, I think so," he said when asked if he was hoping to play in the 2023 Ashes. "It's been an incredible summer to be a part of. The mindset that Ben Stokes, as captain, and Brendon McCullum, as coach, have brought to our changing room and to Test cricket as a whole has been so refreshing and invigorating to play in.
"I feel it suits my mindset and how I like to play my cricket. It's been incredible how those two have worked together and the messaging they've brought through has been so united. You feel really backed in the style of cricket that those two have created in the changing rooms and I think we’re now at the stage where every player has contributed throughout the Test summer, which is a really helpful place to be in.
McGrath took 563 Test wickets, Broad now has 566 [Getty Images]
Broad helped England to the verge of series victory over South Africa on Sunday [Getty Images]
"I feel great. I'm 36. I feel like I've bowled really well. I enjoy the first change role. Whether that continues over the winter or in the Ashes, that may be a matchup [decision] against whoever we play against. But it's nice to have that adaptability and do that role for the captain."
Meanwhile Broad conceded that England were "frustrated" by the decision to end the day due to bad light with England on the brink of duty, but praised the umpires for their good communication.
"We're naturally disappointed and frustrated the day ended for bad light with 33 needed," he said. "Particularly as the guys were going so well. Alex Lees hit the last ball of the day through the covers for four and was seeing it fine.
TOP FIVE ALL-TIME TEST WICKET-TAKERS1 - Muttiah Muralitharan, 800 wickets2 - Shane Warne, 7013 - James Anderson, 6674 - Anil Kumble, 6195 - Stuart Broad, 566
"But I do understand the other side of it. It would be unfair on South Africa if it rained all day tomorrow and we'd carried on just to finish the game tonight. I can see that side of it but as a changing room, we're frustrated that we didn't get to finish it in front of the crowd that have been with us all day.
"The umpires were communicating clearly with Zak [Crawley] and Leesy saying 'look, we’re running out of time here, the light reading is quite high and we don’t have long left'.
"So, we're naturally frustrated and the crowd will be frustrated. But it's probably a fair call to come off and the umpires communicated it really clearly. They'd given a decent amount of warning to the guys that the light was disappearing."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.