Broad unfazed by hostility

12 April 2012

Stuart Broad is well aware he is going to be targeted by South Africa on his return from injury - and he is relishing the prospect.

Broad is fit again after an initially worrying shoulder problem caused when he dived awkwardly in the field at Bloemfontein early this month. The 23-year-old was left in little doubt on Wednesday, though, that England's hosts - seeking a first one-day international win in seven against them and trailing 1-0 going into Friday's match at Newlands - will be trying to expose any weakness.

South Africa batsman JP Duminy acknowledged he and his team-mates will be anxious not to let Broad settle back into a groove. But the Nottinghamshire seamer said: "I see that as a positive."

He added: "They're coming harder at you, and it gives you a better chance of finding the edge or taking wickets.

"You might have to accept you go for a few more runs. But if you're bowling them out, you're happy."

Broad is impatient too to play his part in what has, largely, been an encouraging start to England's winter - following their Ashes victory three months ago.

"Obviously we've got a bit of momentum going against the South Africans," he notes. "With only three one-dayers left now in the series, this weekend is going to be a huge one for us.

"We want to be right on the money and perform like we finished (in a seven-wicket win at Centurion) on Sunday."

There is no chance either, according to Broad, of England becoming even remotely complacent.

"After every game, whether you win or lose, you've got to analyse to see what you did well and what you did badly," he said. "There's an ethos of constant improvement, and that is what we're always pushing for."

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