Stuart Broad: "The most outrageous hour I've seen in Test cricket from a partnership"

The England seamer highlighted the role of Brendon McCullum in England's remarkable win over New Zealand at Trent Bridge

Stuart Broad has praised the early impact of Brendon McCullum on England's Test team, pointing to Joe Root's reverse-scoop for six off Tim Southee as evidence of "a shift in mindset" over the last fortnight.

Broad was the next man in for England on the fifth afternoon at Trent Bridge as Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes put the finishing touches to a remarkable Test victory set up by Jonny Bairstow's 77-ball century that drove McCullum's side to chase down 299 in just 50 overs against the world Test champions.

"There's no doubt that Baz has had an impact already," said Broad, who described the hour after tea when Bairstow and Stokes took the game away from the tourists as "the most outrageous hour I've seen in Test cricket from a partnership".

"Just look at his playing career with New Zealand and the impact he had on the style of cricket. You'd argue he had an impact on the way England play their white-ball cricket, with being great mates with [Eoin Morgan].

"It's a very positive language in the changing room. It's very forward thinking. All about how to move this game forward. Even at tea, four down with the game in the balance slightly, I've certainly been in changing rooms in the past – and this is no dig – that would be shut-up-shop time.

"I don't think he's spoken particularly deeply. His whole mantra is about enjoyment and fun. The energy is: how good's Test cricket? How good's this ground? He seems like he doesn't look too far ahead, enjoy the day, what can we get out today?

"He was absolutely buzzing that we got 380 on day three. It didn't matter how many wickets, it was the run rate. How good is that? 380 in a day, well batted lads. It's not just praising guys who get a 100, it's tiny little things, bits of fielding, momentum changes in the game. He will bring attention to that."

^{Broad was full of praise for the impact of Brendon McCullum on England's Test team (Stu Forster/Getty Images)}

Broad also mentioned the impact of Covid restrictions through the last two years, and how the opening up of bubbles has refreshed tired minds. He added that the Lord's Test was the first time in two-and-a-half years that he had seen his partner, Mollie King, during a match.

"It makes you feel mentally freer, and it's been awesome," he said.

He added: "I knew our mindset was always going to be all about winning the game, and at no stage was it ever going to turn into a draw from our point of view.

"It was a Test match that had everything, wasn't it? The first three days had 1,100 runs and it was hard to see anything but a draw from that position. But in our changing room we thought: 25 wickets have got a fall, we need 10 of them to have a chance to win this Test. So, we felt like the game could speed up.

"The rate we scored in the first innings gave us the ability to be able to win the game. I don't think we'd have won it any other way. If we'd have tried to bat way past them slower and bowl on the last day, I mean, are you getting 10 wickets? If someone's trying to block it on that, then probably not.

"So, the whole idea of bowling first was based around the pitch doesn't really deteriorate and we can set up a chase. We didn't necessarily think it would be 300 and we certainly didn't think we'd concede 550. But it just it was breathless."

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