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'Desperation for attention': Stuart Broad's stinging rebuke for journo

chris young
Sports Reporter
·3-min read
England bowler Stuart Broad is pictured during the recent Test series against Pakistan.
England bowler Stuart Broad has launched a stunning attack on a member of the British press, who was critical of some of the team's recent selection choices. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

English paceman Stuart Broad has launched a stunning social media broadside at a journalist who said recent series victories against the West Indies and Pakistan were no cause for celebration.

Broad was one of England’s better performers in their recent series victory over Pakistan, despite being dropped for the opening match in the three-Test series.

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The veteran bowler ultimately took 29 wickets at a 13.41 average, impressive figures by any measure.

But cricket columnist for The Guardian, Johnathan Liew, said leading performances from Broad and fellow experienced campaigner James Anderson weren’t exactly cause for optimism.

“Peer under the bonnet and you will find a team where half of the top six failed to pass 50, where 24 of their 41 wickets were taken by their two oldest bowlers,” Liew wrote.

“Was this England’s summer of discovery, then? Learning that, yes, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad are very good in English conditions?

“If this series was an online course, you’d ask for your money back.”

A furious Broad shot back at the writer on Twitter, accusing him of publishing ‘click-bait’ and being ‘desperate for attention’.

“We have to remember a lot of these articles are clickbait,” Broad said.

“Desperation for attention, rather than writing good pieces. In England, we seem obsessed by the next chapter instead of enjoying the successful one.

“Won 3 out of 4 with 2 Washouts. I like winning, so I don’t class that as ‘Wasted.’ 2 Series Victories.

“Bowlers Historic Milestones, Crawley 267, Buttler MoS, Buttler/Woakes incredible match winning partnership, Stokes all round ability, Sibley monster knock & many more positives.”

Journo defends article after Stuart Broad criticism

Broad won plenty of support from his colleagues for his response to Liew’s article, including a Tweet from fast bowling teammate Anderson, but the Guardian scribe was prepared to back his work.

Liew replied that he had been impressed with Broad’s performances across the two series, but insisted the point of his piece was more a criticism of the English team’s reluctance to blood younger players in optimal conditions.

England's Stuart Broad shakes hands with Pakistan's Babar Azam after England won the test series 1-0 during day five of the third Test match at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. (Photo by Alastair Grant/PA Images via Getty Images)
England's Stuart Broad shakes hands with Pakistan's Babar Azam after England won the test series 1-0 during day five of the third Test match at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. (Photo by Alastair Grant/PA Images via Getty Images)

He also suggested Broad’s ‘hissy fit’ earlier in the year after not being selected in July had discouraged English selectors from playing new bowlers.

“I’d like to have seen Mark Wood get more of a chance, and Jofra with the new ball. Which they might have done had you not thrown your hissy fit,” Liew replied.

“Fine to disagree! But that doesn’t make it clickbait. And — genuinely — well bowled this summer.”