Shane Warne's batting in 2005 Ashes inspired me, says Stuart Broad after cameo against West Indies

Broad explained at stumps that he and his Nottinghamshire coach Peter Moores had spoken earlier this summer about the way Warne counter-punched his way to 249 runs and an average of nearly 28 in that memorable campaign 15 years ago

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Stuart Broad took inspiration from Shane Warne’s batting performances in the 2005 Ashes to adapt his technique, and it has paid off handsomely so far in 2020.

Broad, who hit the third fastest half-century by an Englishman in Test matches on Saturday as England took control of the final match of the series against West Indies, revealed he has been studying the Australian legspinner’s “unorthodox” approaching to runscoring 15 years ago.

And the subsequent tweaks he has made to his own game paid off at Emirates Old Trafford as his 45-ball 62 helped England to 369 all out in their first innings, before the Windies ended the second day’s play on 137 for 6.

Broad explained at stumps that he and his Nottinghamshire coach Peter Moores had spoken earlier this summer about the way Warne counter-punched his way to 249 runs at an average of nearly 28 in that memorable campaign 15 years ago.

“He was quite unorthodox, opening up different parts of the field. I looked at that, did a bit of research about how he went about it and decided it’s quite a good way for me to go,” he told Sky Sports.

“I like scoring through the offside, I’m trying to keep my head out the way of falling over to avoid bringing the lbw in. It’s really hard to tell in the nets but I felt pretty comfortable today.

“The situation helped today. It wasn’t one of those situations to try to hang around for two hours, it’s one of those situations to take the attack to the bowling attack and it suited that style.”

^{Stuart Broad goes on the attack}

Bolstered by Saturday’s entertaining cameo and a punchy 43 against South Africa at The Wanderers in January, Broad is now averaging 42 with the bat in 2020 - an encouraging sign for a man who has not averaged better than 20 in any calendar year since 2014, when he was struck in the grille by India’s Varun Aaron at Old Trafford.

“I played a few different roles. I did start at No.8 in my career and I enjoyed batting with Swanny (Graeme Swann) and Matty Prior in quite a counter-attacking role. I think I’m at my best when I’m just striking the ball,” he said.

“One thing I’ve done recently is keep my head much stiller. As soon as the eyes start moving on delivery, everything feels much quicker and harder. The work I’ve done recently is to get a little movement in a bit earlier and be as still as possible when the ball’s released, which gives you the best chance of striking.

“I’m not going to be someone who’s going to leave loads of balls and bat 100 balls for 20. I want to be able to score and those situations like today suit me.”

Broad had no idea he was so close to breaking Ian Botham’s record for the fastest fifty by an Englishman in Tests while he was at the wicket, and admitted after play that he was frustrated he didn’t add to his total - he was dismissed by Roston Chase, mowing a full toss to deep midwicket.

“I shouldn’t have slowed down at the end and started knocking ones,” he said.

“I had no clue of that, to be honest.

“Batting is such a frustrating and weird thing. If you’ve have told me this morning I’d get 10, I’d have been pretty happy. I’d shake your hand and take it. Then you get 60 and you start kicking the ground that you’ve not got 70, it’s the weirdest thing in the world.

“It’s great to have got 60 but I’m annoyed I hit a full toss down deep midwicket’s throat now."