Stuart Broad tells skysports.com why he's now stronger than ever ahead of a massive 12 months.
Seamer now stronger ahead of huge 12 months for English cricket
Boosted by England's ICC World Twenty20 success and beefed up after a conditioning programme, Stuart Broad is a man on a mission.
While his international team-mates were beating Bangladesh in Test action, the seamer was busy working hard in the gym at Loughborough University.
It seems a wise idea for national coach Andy Flower to send away one of his leading lights to get stronger, because Broad will certainly be busy in a year that includes an Ashes tour and a 50-over World Cup on the sub-contintent.
The 23-year-old, who has not played for his country since winning the World T20 in the Caribbean against Australia, is now eager to get back in the thick of the action - starting with a NatWest Series against now familiar foes.
Tough
"It's certainly not been time off. I've been very busy in the gym every day, doing a variety of lower and upper body strengthening work," Broad explained to
skysports.com.
"It's been pretty tough and I'm looking forward to getting back playing.
"I've not had time to sit and reflect (on the ICC World Twenty20 win). I've been busy at Loughborough training and trying to improve for the summer ahead.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back playing against Scotland and then Australia. You always want to test yourself against the best and I certainly think they (Australia) are the best one-day side around at the moment.
"It's important for us as an England cricket team to continue the momentum we have built over the past year, and that starts against Australia.
"We know they are such a tough side, meaning if we manage to do well against them that we are in a good place."
With Broad lifting weights instead of sending down bouncers, England took the opportunity to blood some youngsters in the series against the Tigers.
Middlesex's beanpole bowler Steven Finn, now sent away to do conditioning work himself, seized his chance with both hands, while Ajmal Shahzad of Yorkshire also impressed in a one-sided second Test at Old Trafford.
"It's exciting to see young talents come in and do well," Broad said of the duo.
"I think you need a stable of fast bowlers these days in international cricket, and England are now developing one. It's hugely beneficial to the team.
Asked if he now felt any extra pressure for his place in the Test XI, he added: "No, I don't think so.
"You always have that pressure to perform in international sport, and players that get to the top level perform better under that type of pressure.
"I think being sent for a strengthening programme ahead of these Test matches really gave me the belief that the hierarchy view me as part of their plans for the future.
"I'm just looking forward to getting back in the side and taking some wickets again."
While one-day cricket will be the centre of attention for the next few weeks, it is hard for any Englishman not to let their mind drift ahead to see an Ashes tour looming large on the horizon.
"Obviously it's a huge tour, so it's something that you look forward to," Broad acknowledged.
"I know Andrew Strauss talks about concentrating on the first hour and the first ball of games, so our focus is very much on this English summer.
"The Ashes will come if we keep doing the basics that we have been doing so well over the past year."
Father's day
England will be hoping young Broad proves to be a chip off the old block when it comes to playing on Australian soil.
His father, Chris Broad, hit three centuries at the top of the order and was named man of the series the last time England triumphed in a series Down Under, back on the 1986-87 tour.
"He'll never ever let me forget that he won there in 1987. They are the last England side to have won there," Broad junior admitted.
"He did fantastically well and enjoyed his tour. I will be talking to him about his experience - about what he did well and what he did badly - and try and learn from him.
"But we have a really good chance leading into the winter of going to win in Australia. We are certainly a confident team but we need to keep doing the little things that we have been doing really well during the past year."
While Broad may look to his dad for help in how to win in Australia, the Nottinghamshire bowler will be handing out some advice of his own this summer as one of Disney XD's Aim High mentors.
