You picked on the wrong man, Broad tells Aussie media hate campaigners
UNPOPULAR England seamer Stuart Broad hit back at his detractors in the Australian media yesterday, claiming they chose the wrong man to pick on.
So upset was the Courier Mail newspaper in Brisbane at Broad’s failure to walk during the first Test of the summer Ashes series after umpires missed a clear edge to the slips, the publication refused to name or picture him in their coverage of the current series.
Broad, referred to as “the 27-year-old English medium-pace bowler” and “smug Pommie cheat” claimed figures of 5-65 on the first day of the first Test, despite being the subject of continuous barracking inside The Gabba. One supporter was even arrested for animal cruelty after smuggling a pig into the ground, hidden in a pram, with “Broad” painted on its side.
Yet the 27-year-old took it all in his stride and felt the Mail’s decision to target him had proven a mistake.
“In our medical assessments our psychologist mentioned about what kind of personality you are and there are three guys in this side who thrive properly on getting abuse,” he said. “It’s KP [Kevin Pietersen], me and Matty Prior, so they picked the good men to go at.
“I’d braced myself to expect it and actually it was good fun.
“I’m pleased my mum wasn’t in the stadium, but, to be honest, I was singing along at one stage.
“I quite enjoyed it. It was something a bit different.”
Play resumed at 12am this morning.