I didn't need a rest, says dropped England star Broad
Stuart Broad showed a change is sometimes as a good as a rest on the first day of Nottinghamshire's County Championship Division One match with Durham.
Broad was dropped from the England team to face South Africa at Edgbaston amid claims he needed a rest, but was energetic in Durham's innings, taking three for 47.
Stumped: Stuart Broad is bemused by suggestions that he needed a rest from Test cricket.
The 22-year-old and fellow seamer Charlie Shreck (four for 69) bowled Durham out for 266.
'I've certainly never come out and said I needed a rest,' said Broad. 'I don't really know where those rumours started. I'm looking forward to bowling each time.'
Broad acknowledges there is a sensible balance to be struck with rest time - but once leaders Notts made it clear they wanted him back, he was happy to make the morning drive from Birmingham.
'It is important to manage it,' he concedes. 'But I had four or five days off last week - and I was very excited about playing again.'
Broad added: 'Probably my only way back for the next Test is through injury, so I have to keep myself fit and bowling well.'
In Division Two, Kabir Ali became the first bowler to take 50 Championship wickets this season as he helped Worcestershire dismiss Gloucestershire for 283.
Ali's dismissal of Oliver Newby also saw Graeme Hick take the 1,000th catch of his career.
