Stuart Broad: Ian Botham was an inspiration - now I can't wait to break his record
GETTY Stuart Broad needs five wickets to equal Sir Ian Botham's record
James Anderson, on 487 wickets, is the only Englishman to have claimed the scalp of more opposition batsmen in Test cricket than Botham’s 383. Anderson beat that record during England’s last series against the West Indies in the Caribbean two years ago. Now Broad, five short of Botham’s mark, is primed to do likewise against the same opposition when England’s first day-night Test starts at Edgbaston on Thursday. “Obviously he’s the biggest player English cricket has ever had, and anyone who’s done what he has against Australia I’ve got a lot of respect for,” Broad said of Botham. “He’s been an inspiration to me in how to take on Australia. I grew up in our era from ’86-’87 to 2005 when it was horrible watching the Ashes. That was an influence on me because it made me very determined that if ever I got the chance to play against them we’d have to win. “So Beefy’s been a big influence not just with my bowling but also his mentality on the importance of Ashes series.”
This will be up there with the most fascinating Ashes series of recent times England star Stuart Broad
The last of Botham’s five Ashes series victories came alongside Broad’s father, Chris, Down Under in 1986-87. However, Broad junior, an Ashes winner in 2009, 2010-11, 2013 and 2015, can equal that number in Australia this winter. Despite their recent inconsistency, England will fancy their chances of success given they have just recorded a convincing 3-1 series victory a South Africa team that won in Australia late last year. “It’s a massive winter,” said Broad. “This England side is a really exciting team to play in and we’ve got players who can do really special things. “You look at Australia and I think both teams look similar. Both have experienced players who can perform relatively consistently and both have got players who do unbelievably world-class things one day and, with a bit of inexperience, make mistakes the next. "I think this will be up there with the most fascinating Ashes series of recent times and that’s exciting.
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“This isn’t disrespecting this series because we’re talking about West Indies and it’s hugely important but we want to go to Australia with a consistent team because if we get the consistency right we’ve got the flair to blow any team away. It’s pretty exciting time to be involved in this Test team actually.” This three-match Investec series against the West Indies will also provide Broad and Anderson with an opportunity to bolster their joint tally of 720 Test wickets in the 94 matches they have played together. Anderson may now be 35 but could England’s new-ball pair get close to a combined total of 1,000? “It would be nice, wouldn’t it?” said Broad. “It would be pretty special, but we’d have to see how long the old bloke wants to go on for. “I know he has a huge hunger for cricket, and I certainly want him to carry on for as long as possible.
GETTY James Anderson has the most wickets in England Test history with 487