Broad confident Lions system can help T20 newcomers roar

England have included uncapped trio Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Alex Hales in their 13-man squad after all impressed in the recently-concluded domestic Friends Life t20.

With the likes of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott missing out there have been a few eyebrows raised about selection just 12 months out from England’s World Twenty20 title defence.

Broad, however, believes the selectors have made the right call because the international regulars are simply not exposed to much Twenty20 cricket.

England will play just their fourth Twenty20 international this year under the new Old Trafford lights and only the second under Broad since he was handed the captaincy in May.

By contrast the domestic players have just completed a long Twenty20 campaign and Broad believes England will be better off for being able to call on in-form and match-sharpened players against an injury-depleted India.

“We get three days every couple of months so you have to make use of these opportunities,” he said. “We don’t play a lot of international Twenty20. For me I haven’t been able to play in the domestic Twenty20 this year either.

“So it is good to be able to call on these players.

“I know it is a huge test for any player to come up from county cricket into international cricket.

“That’s why we have the Lions system to put guys under international pressure.”

Broad’s hopes of claiming his first success as Twenty20 captain have been boosted by India’s injury problems.

The tourists’ top order has been hardest hit with Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh having already flown home while Gautam Gambhir is set to miss out due to the concussion he suffered in the final Test at The Oval.

England Test captain Andrew Strauss hit a career-best score and Sam Robson a century to put Middlesex in a formidable position on day one of their LV= County Championship Division Two match with newly-crowned t20 champions Leicestershire at Lord’s.

After being put in to bat, the hosts closed on 370-1, with Strauss having struck an undefeated 184 off 254 balls with 19 fours and two sixes.

Robson made 101 before retiring hurt and Jamie Dalrymple added a brisk 46 before becoming the only wicket of the day.