Test XI of 2023

[wpdavid]

Broad has to be in my XI if only for the enjoyment that he's provided above and beyond his performances. Casually announcing that the 2021-22 ashes were null and void due to the covid restrictions, and then telling the world that he'd devised a new delivery 'for Marnus' (spolier alert, it's an out-swinger) and then getting ML to nick off first time he faced him in the series were great fun. But none of that would be relevant if he didn't back up the talk with a more than decent series against the world champions. For a 37 year old to play five tests in the space of a month and a half was pretty astonishing, but to be as good as he was most of the time was beyond most of our expectations. And then there was the bail-shifting nonsense, which was blatantly out-of-order, but brilliant theatre when it twice led to vital wickets.

 

[GIMH]

Broad has to be in my XI if only for the enjoyment that he's provided above and beyond his performances. Casually announcing that the 2021-22 ashes were null and void due to the covid restrictions, and then telling the world that he'd devised a new delivery 'for Marnus' (spolier alert, it's an out-swinger) and then getting ML to nick off first time he faced him in the series were great fun. But none of which would be relevant if he didn't back up the talk with a more than decent series against the world champions. For a 37 year old to play five tests in the space of a month and a half was pretty astonishing, but to be as good as he was most of the time was beyond most of our expectations. And then there was the bail-shifting nonsense, which was blatantly out-of-order, but brilliant theatre when it twice led to vital wickets.

And he actually played six Tests on the bounce, something the weak excuse-laden Aussies used to excuse the inadequate performances of the much younger Pat Cummins