Discipline is key against New Zealand, insists Broad

Stuart Broad spoke yesterday at Lord’s of the many meetings Alastair Cook’s men have held to discuss what is required for the necessary improvement after their disappointing 0-0 stalemate in New Zealand two months ago.

They know now – whether they did before is a moot and disputed point – that they cannot afford to take the Kiwis lightly, and that the consequence of their performance will be heightened as back-to-back Ashes series loom ever nearer.

An apparent consensus was formed that New Zealand’s pace bowlers were much more adept than their opposite numbers at swinging the Kookaburra balls for much of those three Tests in New Zealand.

Broad takes issue with that, and can point to individual figures in the rain-wrecked middle Test in Wellington which refute the premise.

Even so, he concedes that England collectively have work to do to set the right tone for this high-profile season.

“Regardless of what New Zealand did as a bowling unit, we didn’t swing the ball,” he said.

“So it needs to be looked at, and we have looked at it. We know we can bowl a lot better than in New Zealand.”

The next step after an acknowledgment of shortcomings is to decide what to do about it – quickly, with the first of two Tests set to start at HQ tomorrow.

England are with the programme.

“Regardless of whether you are moving the ball, you can still put six balls in the over into the right area – and we probably didn’t do that as a unit in New Zealand,” added Broad.

“Individuals might have done it here and there, but we were not disciplined enough to do it consistently. It is about the discipline of the bowling unit being together and building pressure. That’s where we let ourselves down a bit in New Zealand.”

The Broad manifesto contains an assumption that, as long as England stick to those established principles – especially with James Anderson in the side and a Dukes ball in hand – everything will be fine.

“We shouldn’t panic too much,” he said.

“But we didn’t move the ball as much as we wanted to on what were slow, placid pitches (in New Zealand). So if it doesn’t swing and we don’t move it off the straight this week, then we might be having a few panic meetings.”