The paceman was dubbed a ‘smug Pommy cheat’ by a local newspaper as the series got under way, over his decision not to walk during the last Ashes Tests, and was booed loudly by the Brisbane crowd.
But Broad let his bowling do the talking as he removed all four of Australia’s top order and then broke up a dangerous rearguard partnership for first-day figures of five for 65 off 20 overs.
Afterwards, with Australia at 273 for eight at stumps, the beaming 27-year-old walked into the post-play press conference with a copy of the offending newspaper under his arm. ‘I saw this outside (the press conference room) and it made me smile,’ he told reporters.
Broad said the tourists had come into the Ashes ‘under the radar’, with all the attention on the Australian team and their predictions about what was in store for England. ‘We’ve never focused on what the other team are doing, we’ve got a lot of experience in that dressing room and we almost felt a bit like silent assassins on this trip,’ he said.
‘We were just going under the radar, all the attention had been on the Australians. That was perfect for us, it meant we could just get on with our business and get ready.
‘Now we’re in for the fight, you’ll see our players stand up. It’s a relief we’ve actually started the series quite well, we’d usually be under the eight ball by now so we’re delighted in that changing room.’
Broad said he took no extra motivation from the boos at the Gabba ground, where Australia are unbeaten in 25 years, calling it all ‘good banter’. ‘Good fun. It was something a bit different but I think I coped with it okay actually,’ he said. ‘It’s all good banter. ‘There’s something about Ashes cricket that brings out the best in me,’ said Broad.
But Broad let his bowling do the talking as he removed all four of Australia’s top order and then broke up a dangerous rearguard partnership for first-day figures of five for 65 off 20 overs.
Afterwards, with Australia at 273 for eight at stumps, the beaming 27-year-old walked into the post-play press conference with a copy of the offending newspaper under his arm. ‘I saw this outside (the press conference room) and it made me smile,’ he told reporters.
Broad said the tourists had come into the Ashes ‘under the radar’, with all the attention on the Australian team and their predictions about what was in store for England. ‘We’ve never focused on what the other team are doing, we’ve got a lot of experience in that dressing room and we almost felt a bit like silent assassins on this trip,’ he said.
‘We were just going under the radar, all the attention had been on the Australians. That was perfect for us, it meant we could just get on with our business and get ready.
‘Now we’re in for the fight, you’ll see our players stand up. It’s a relief we’ve actually started the series quite well, we’d usually be under the eight ball by now so we’re delighted in that changing room.’
Broad said he took no extra motivation from the boos at the Gabba ground, where Australia are unbeaten in 25 years, calling it all ‘good banter’. ‘Good fun. It was something a bit different but I think I coped with it okay actually,’ he said. ‘It’s all good banter. ‘There’s something about Ashes cricket that brings out the best in me,’ said Broad.