England fast bowler Stuart Broad has made a brilliant admission less than a week out from the Gabba Test.
Broad made himself public enemy number one down under ahead of the 2013-14 Ashes series when he refused to walk after nicking Ashton Agar to first slip during the previous series in England.
Once he made his way down under just a few months later, he found the Australian fans baying for blood.
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“Whether the crowd are abusing you, singing, cheering, it doesn’t matter,” the veteran said.
“It’s an amazing experience.
“I’ve had 20,000 people singing, ‘Broady’s a … you know’, but I enjoyed it; it’s great fun.
“I was clapping along and whistling that for 24 hours,” he admitted.
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Broad has toured Australia for the Ashes on three occasions – in the summers of 2010-11, 2013-14 and 2017-18 – and, considering he’s now 35, this will likely be his last.
The right-arm quick will make his 150th Test appearance at the Gabba – a venue at which he relishes playing.
“Exciting, buzzing – even just having it mentioned then gives me butterflies in my stomach,” Broad said.
“It’s what you train for, it’s what you live for. Playing at the Gabba, for me, is one of the best cricketing experiences you can have. It has that same feeling as The Wanderers in South Africa.
“It feels like a very Australian ground – it’s very pro-Australian. It will be even more so without the Barmy Army. But you just have to enjoy that experience. If you’re not walking onto that field buzzing and excited, looking up at the stand, look up at the noise and smiling, you’re playing the wrong game. It’s those sort of moments you should really embrace and love.”
The opening Test of the Ashes will begin on Wednesday.
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