NEWS
Follow UsEngland fast bowler Stuart Broad fully sympathises with the Indian contingent that toured England and says he understands why they panicked and refused to play the fifth and final Test in Manchester.
India's backroom staff, including head coach Ravi Shastri, tested positive for Covid-19 and a few days later, physio Yogesh Parmar, who was in close contact with the Indian cricketers too tested positive for the virus. It is believed that India were scared to take field for the Test and as a result, the match was called off with India leading the series 2-1.
Broad, who was ruled out of the Test series due to injury, in a column in Daily Mail wrote, "We have seen the pressures of being away from home for a long period of time most recently with India returning zero positive Covid tests within their group but still feeling anxious enough to not play a Test match. I get that."
"I am certainly not going to preach that what they did was wrong because I remember how I felt for the last Test match in Ahmedabad (when England toured India), having been locked away for 10 weeks in hotel rooms. We'd not seen other human beings, been kept away from our families, had slow wi-fi and couldn't even stream Netflix," he added.
With many criticising India for pulling out with the Indian Premier League (IPL) around the corner, Broad writes while they too may have played a part, he understands India's stand.
"I know Michael Vaughan was quite vociferous, saying India's decision was all about the IPL riches --and I am not saying it didn't play its part -- but I can understand them panicking so close to their flights out," Broad, who has 524 Test wickets to his name from 149 matches opined.
Would be happy to get on a plane to Australia in November
With the Ashes series in limbo over Australia's quarantine rules, it is believed that England players are not convinced if they should travel. However, Broad is certainly not one of them.
"If you ask me if I would be happy to get on a plane to Australia in November, I would say yes," Broad further wrote in his column.
"I am working tirelessly to get there. I don't feel there will be a postponement. In my mind, it is 100 percent clear that an England team of some description will embark on the tour. It is now just a couple of weeks away from a squad being selected but players can't sign up to something unless they know what they are signing up for," he added.