Broad - It will be a battle

England paceman excited by Proteas challenge

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 9th July 2008

stuart broad

Broad: Ready for battle

I would bowl with a dodgeball if it means playing for England but my aim is to become a new ball bowler.

Stuart Broad
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Stuart Broad believes the upcoming Test series between England and South Africa will be a "great battle" as both sides prepare to reacquaint themselves at Lord's.

Broad is set to pit his wits against the Proteas for the first time at Test level when the sides begin their four-match series at the home of cricket on Thursday.

South Africa last toured England in 2003 and a gripping series ended 2-2. Despite the tourists claiming they are a more settled side this time around - Broad is confident he and his team-mates can maintain their impressive Test form throughout the series.

"It's going to be a great battle, they are ranked the second best Test match side in the world and in good form themselves," Broad told skysports.com.

"It's going to be a very exciting series to play in, an exciting series to watch and that's just good for the game of cricket.

"We can't look too far past our current form though, we have won four out of our last five Test matches and we are in good shape ourselves".

Kallis threat

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith blazed back-to-back double-hundreds in England five years ago, but Broad believes it is the dangerous Jacques Kallis who is the prize wicket for the England seamers.

"Jacques Kallis is probably their stand-out batsman, he has been a world-class performer for years and is very solid," he said.

"They've got such talented batsmen all the way through though but so have we.

"We have got the likes of Vaughany coming back into the side which gives us a big boost - it is going to be an exciting series to watch."

Broad struck a career-best 64 against New Zealand in his last Test in the final game of the four-match series against the Black Caps at Trent Bridge.

And the 22-year-old admits he is happy, for the time being, to be adding depth to the England batting order at No.8.

Commanded

"I'm very comfortable at number eight at the moment, very pleased to have a position and pleased to have got a couple of runs against New Zealand," he said.

"I've been working well with Andy Flower (England batting coach) who has been fantastic and I'm thoroughly enjoying working with him and I'm very happy with my role."

Fellow pacemen James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom have commanded the new ball after fine performances in the back-to-back Test series' against the Kiwis.

But Broad admits he harbours ambitions of his own and is keen to snatch the new ball away from them if the opportunity arises.

"Obviously my overall aim as an international bowler is to become a new ball bowler but you have to earn the right to do that - it's not something which gets given to you on a plate," he said.

"Jimmy (Anderson) and Siddy (Sidebottom) have got hold of that new ball and thoroughly deserve to keep it they have bowled fantastically; they have made breakthroughs regularly.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying my role in the side. I would bowl with a dodgeball if it means playing for England but my aim is to become a new ball bowler."