NICK HOWSON: Dropped from the squad to face West Indies and with a new captain and coach at the helm, England's second all-time leading wicket-taker admits to being uncertain over his international prospects
Stuart Broad concedes he entered the new 2022 season uncertain whether he had an England future
The 35-year-old was dropped for the West Indies tour before Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum were installed as the new men's captain and head coach.
Broad returned to the fold for the first time since the Ashes against New Zealand at Lord's and played a key role in a five-wicket victory, though his match figures of 4 for 121 didn't tell the whole story.
Day three saw a flash of his best, having centurion Daryl Mitchell caught behind and bowling Kyle Jamieson for a golden duck - either side of the run-out of Colin de Grandhomme - a spell that went a long way to deciding the Test.
But it wasn't long ago that England's second all-time wicket-taker was considering whether his time in the heat of international cricket was over. The second Test sees him return to his home ground of Trent Bridge, but he won't be thinking of the match as his last on home turf.
"I've changed my mindset over the winter and since Hobart (where England sign off the Ashes with a 146-run defeat to Australia)," he said.
"It's not looking too far ahead, it's just enjoying each week for what it is, give everything, and then reset for the next week.
Broad returns to hie home ground, and scene of his best test performance, for the second Test (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
"Jimmy turns 40 this year, four years ago was he thinking 2018 might be his last at Old Trafford? Probably not. That just takes your mind away from enjoying the week.
"I started this season not knowing if I'd pull on the England shirt again, I was just enjoying every day for what it was.
"I wear the Notts shirt with the same pride as the England badge and I'll attack this week with the same mindset: walk out on that first day, look around the stands, and know how lucky I am to be there.
"Colly said to me this Test 'Are you the luckiest bloke in the world? Saturday at Lord's, a full house, it doesn't get any better than this'."
Following the promotion back to the Premier League for Broad'sbeloved Nottingham Forest after more than two decades outside of the top division, there is a feel-good factor around the city ahead of the Test starting on Friday (June 10).
"But Joe and I are great friends. And I've always been someone who can distinguish between business and pleasure. I can't fall out with someone because they don't pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic"
"It's a ground I always look forward to playing at - whether that's Nottinghamshire or England, " Broad said of the prospect of playing on his home ground, scene of his best Test figures of 8 for 15 against Australia in 2015.
"But this Test particularly, and what the city has experienced recently with Forest getting promoted and the party atmosphere that started with the play-off semi-final against Sheffield United through the scenes in the Market Square after the final, I get the sense the city will want to come and support the England team and see it continue.
"People say Trent Bridge and Edgbaston are the best Test match atmospheres in the country and after what was a really interesting win at Lord's, it should see people who are heading to Trent Bridge have a lot of excitement about what is to come."
Joe Root's unbeaten 115 secured victory for England at the self-styled home of cricket, in his first Test since relinquishing the captaincy.
Broad says there is no animosity between him and Root (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Root had urged England to "look forward" after both Broad and Anderson were dropped for the Caribbean series, though he never revealed his role in the final decision.
"Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain and I said to him how much he's meant to me as a captain, and what a privilege it was playing under him," added Broad, who said there was no ill-feeling between him and Root.
"I told him I hope he really enjoys the next few years, all that pressure has gone now, he's already a legend of the game, so he can just go out there and enjoy it.
"But Joe and I are great friends. And I've always been someone who can distinguish between business and pleasure.
"I can't fall out with someone because they don't pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic."
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