Aussies Broad-sided
The role of pantomime villain was gleefully played by Stuart Broad as Australia’s top order fluffed their lines on the opening day of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.
A fired-up Broad silenced his critics – and a shellshocked Gabba crowd – to take 5-65 as Australia were reduced to be 8-273 at stumps.
Broad was always going to be public enemy No.1 after refusing to walk when caught in a key innings as England won the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in July.
Yet coach Darren Lehmann still felt compelled to later brand Broad a cheat and ask the Australian crowds to “get stuck into him”.
They duly delivered.
Boos, cheeky banners and the inevitable “Broad is a wanker” chant were unleashed as soon as the new ball was thrown to the lanky quick in the morning session.
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And at first it seemed to take its toll.
Broad’s first ball was pulled to the boundary with disdain by David Warner – and called a no-ball – much to the delirium of the Gabba faithful.
Only something special was going to silence the fired up crowd.
And Broad produced, at one stage boasting the figures of 4-38 off 11 overs.
Brisbane’s News Corp paper vowed not to use Broad’s name during the first Test as a protest over his much maligned actions in the last Ashes series won 3-0 by England.
But it remains to be seen how long they can maintain the stance after Broad became the name on everyone’s lips thanks to his day-one demolition job.
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“So what are the Aussie papers going to say tomorrow,” tweeted former England paceman Matthew Hoggard.
One wag later changed the Brisbane paper’s editor’s name to “Stuart Broad” on Wikipedia.
In the same paper on Thursday, ex-skipper Allan Border asked the public not to jeer Broad, saying the silent treatment would be the best way to get under the cocky paceman’s skin.
But the only hush from the crowd came when Broad struck with the ball as Australia’s brittle top order again crumbled.
Broad had a nervous Chris Rogers (one) caught behind with the first ball of his second over.
And honours were even by lunch when Broad snared Shane Watson (22) minutes before the break, snapping a 59-run stand.
Watson’s reaction was heard on stump microphone as his nick sailed to the slips: “Oh no”.
But Broad ensured worse was to come.
Captain Michael Clarke (one) fended Broad’s fourth ball after lunch to short leg, marking the sixth time in eight innings he had been snared by the paceman.
Then Warner (49) inexplicably bunted Broad to the covers.
Broad had been branded a “sook” by Warner before the Test for reportedly prompting the ejection of fans at a tour match over walking taunts.
Broad saved his best for last, clean bowling Mitchell Johnson (64) to end a 114-run seventh-wicket stand with Brad Haddin.
