Birthday Special: Stuart Broad’s top spells in International Cricket

One of England’s finest ever fast bowlers, Stuart Broad, has cemented his place among the elites with over 700 wickets in international cricket for England. The lanky fast bowler made his debut for the national side in 2006 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. As the Nottingham man turns 36 today, we take a look at some of his best bowling performances.

Stuart Broad’s top five bowling performances:

5. 4/15 against South Africa, 2011, MA Chidambaram Stadium

England squared off against South Africa in a group stage match of the 2011 ICC World Cup, which turned out to be a nail-biting thriller. England set South Africa a below-par target of 172 runs after a woeful batting display. South Africa was well on course to chase the target, but Stuart Broad provided the all-important early dismissals of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla. Broad then returned to scalp the two crucial final wickets as South Africa were bundled out for 165.

4. 5/23 against South Africa, 2008, Trent Bridge

England hosted South Africa for the second ODI in Nottingham. A young Stuart Broad playing in front of his home crowd produced his bowling performance of his ODI career as he rattled the South African batters and scalped five wickets as the Proteas succumbed to just 83. England chased down the target without any casualty, and Broad was awarded the player of the match for his incredible bowling performance.

3. 7/72 against West Indies, 2012, Lord’s

Lord’s hosted the opening Test between England and West Indies in 2012. England won the toss and invited the West Indies to bat first. The West Indies batters were looking for a big total, but Stuart Broad had other ideas as he wrecked through their middle-order and ended up picking seven wickets in the first innings. He followed it up with another four wickets in the second innings and finished with 11 wickets in the match.

2. 7/44 against New Zealand, 2013, Lord’s

Stuart Broad turned into New Zealand’s tormentor in chief as he bagged an astonishing seven wickets in the fourth innings of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s. New Zealand, who were set a target of 238 runs, were bundled out for just 68 runs thanks to Broad’s outstanding bowling performance

1. 8/15 against Australia, 2015, Trent Bridge

England faced Australia in a crucial fourth Ashes Test in Nottingham. The English pace attack was without the services of their star bowler James Anderson, but his absence didn’t amount to much as Stuart Broad took it upon himself to decimate the Aussies in front of his home crowd. Broad’s wrath spared no one as he scalped eight wickets and reduced Australia to an embarrassing total of just 60 runs in the first innings. England defeated Australia comprehensively and secured the coveted Ashes trophy on the back of Broad’s mind-boggling performance.