London: Stuart Broad admits the England team could have supported Kevin Pietersen better during the dispute with the England and Wales Cricket Board that contributed to his removal from the side for the past 10 weeks.
England’s Twenty20 World Cup captain said there were “obviously issues” between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pietersen which caused the batsman to retire from some formats.
Broad said: “Maybe that could have been avoided. Maybe the team could have looked after KP better in certain aspects and given him some support he wanted in that battle. Both parties can hold their hands up.”
Pietersen was reinstated in the team last week for the Test tour of India but Broad, who is favourite to be named vice-captain to Alastair Cook, revealed he was not among those teammates Pietersen met as part of his reintegration process. The two have not spoken since the Headingley Test, where reports of dressing-room splits surfaced.
Pietersen was due to meet Broad last Monday but a cancelled flight meant he did not arrive from South Africa, where he is playing in the Champions League, until the next day. Asked why they did not speak by phone, Broad replied: “He’s been so busy, he had to hop back on a flight on Wednesday. I think it’s better to be face-to-face anyway... I’ve spoken to the hierarchy about what I feel comfortable with.
“It was obviously right for KP to come back. By all accounts he is desperate to play for England and we know when he’s desperate to play he’s very dangerous. If he’s back in that place, which he is, he’ll score runs and help us win matches.”
The retirement of Andrew Strauss has consolidated the captaincy of the England teams in the hands of Broad and Cook but Broad played down his prospects as a long-term leader, even though he was reckoned to have done a capable job at the recent World Twenty20.
“Captaincy would be a huge honour but it’s difficult for a fast bowler to do Test match captaincy because consistency [of leadership] is important and as a fast bowler you’re not going to be able to play every game. There’s a reason fast bowlers don’t captain their sides in all formats — it’s impossible for them to play everything. The last month has made me realise the extra pressure and stress that is on a captain. It was my first time of dealing with it for more than two days and I learnt more than in the previous 16 months. How Strauss did everything for several years I’ll never know. It’s tough but very rewarding. I’ll certainly be thinking of ways to help Cooky [Alastair Cook] out.”
England leave for a training camp in Dubai on Thursday before moving on to India for two weeks of matches to prepare for the four Tests.
Broad thinks they should be under no illusions about what to expect. “Let’s make no mistake, India are going to produce turning wickets. With our record in the subcontinent we have to expect that teams will come at us with spin.
“There might be a time on the first morning of a Test when a spinner opens the bowling. We just need to make sure we are in the right place to work out our best ways to score, to get off strike. As individuals, we have to conquer it.”
An extended lead-in to the first Test on November 15 offers the chance to refine strategies but Broad foresees seamers such as himself backing up the spinners with short, sharp spells of four overs when the ball is reversing or a wicket has just fallen. “That’s how the Indians do it and they are the most successful side in their own country.”
He acknowledges that playing Samit Patel as a sixth batsman and third spinner could well be an option. “You could easily do that. Samit has shown himself to be a really useful cricketer and would balance the side.”
Were England to play only two fast bowlers, Broad might come under pressure for his place from Steven Finn but would feel “slightly aggrieved” to miss out.
England have not won in India since David Gower’s side triumphed 2-1 in 1984-85 but having played some brilliant cricket to trounce them 4-0 at home last year, England can at least tell themselves they know how to beat next month’s hosts, even if that series was in conditions drastically different from the ones they are about to encounter.
“Playing India in India is always a hugely exciting challenge,” Broad said. “A wealth of experience has gone out of their side with the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman but some talented players have come in. Their batting is always strong but we believe we’ve got the skills to overcome that.”
Broad had some harsh words for the absence of the decision review system, to which India remain vehemently opposed. “DRS is there to make sure the right decisions are made. It gets rid of controversy and I can’t understand why its use is not unified throughout the game.
“It [not using it] puts umpires under unnecessary pressure. If India are nine down and there’s five to win, someone nicks one and it’s not given, it could count for a lot. With some nicks the umpire just can’t tell. Why not use it? It’s a great shame.”
