{"id":133405,"date":"2023-12-20T15:43:42","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/12\/20\/broad-and-anderson-cherish-captain-ben-and-bazball\/"},"modified":"2023-12-20T15:43:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:43:42","slug":"broad-and-anderson-cherish-captain-ben-and-bazball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/12\/20\/broad-and-anderson-cherish-captain-ben-and-bazball\/","title":{"rendered":"Broad and Anderson cherish captain Ben and Bazball \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson have paid tribute to England captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.<\/p>\n

The legendary fast-bowling duo walked out together for the last time on the final day of the Fifth Ashes Test at The Oval this summer.<\/p>\n

Broad claimed the final wicket of Aussie wicket-keeper Alex Carey to secure victory and a 2-2 series draw before walking into the sunset.<\/p>\n

The fairytale ending to his amazing career saw him finish runner-up to Mary Earps for the Sports Personality of the Year award, where he looked back fondly on his final years under Stokes\u2019 leadership.<\/p>\n

Broad, 37, told LiveScore on the red carpet: \u201cBen really was instrumental [in my final years].<\/p>\n

\u201cI found it so, so difficult to walk away from that team to be honest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so enjoyable, so much fun. It was like playing cricket for your club side when you were 14 years old again, only this time you\u2019re wearing an England shirt in front of 30,000 people.<\/p>\n

\"Ben
Ben Stokes took over the England captaincy from Joe Root in April 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was so great, the freedom they [Stokes and McCullum] brought to the team. The right mindset from the right people.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Ben is going to be a friend for life, he\u2019s a great person and an amazing captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson echoed his close pal\u2019s thoughts prior to the SPOTY ceremony in Manchester, claiming the Stokes era has arguably been the best of his own incredible \u2014 and ongoing \u2014 career.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cBen and Brendon have been amazing. It\u2019s been two of my favourite years playing the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we play, the enjoyment and fun we have on the pitch and just being positive all the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, cricket over five days is tricky. Sometimes you can get quite negative and down on yourself. But not with this team and captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Katarina
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Mary Earps and Stuart Broad were the top three in this year\u2019s Sports Personality of the Year award<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off to India<\/h2>\n

Anderson will continue his Test career, which started in May 2003, when England travel to India in the new year and the 41-year-old is relishing the challenge.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI\u2019m really excited, I love going to India. It\u2019s such a huge challenge for a seam and swing bowler.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s one of those things, if you do well there you feel like you\u2019ve really achieved something.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just so exciting \u2014 but I\u2019m also aware it\u2019s going to be really, really hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broad is not part of the squad for the trip to India after retiring in the summer \u2014 a decision which he says still does not yet feel real.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cNo, it [retirement] hasn\u2019t quite set in yet. I think it\u2019s because I\u2019ve not seen Jimmy or Ben in the whites with the cap on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe moment that happens I\u2019ll probably think, \u2018Wow OK, this is real\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe word former England player doesn\u2019t feel real yet, but it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Stuart
Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson played in 138 Test matches together for England<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trust in Ollie<\/h2>\n

Captain Stokes could miss the First Test against India in Hyderabad as he recovers from knee surgery \u2014 although Anderson is confident in Ollie Pope\u2019s ability to step in as skipper when it kicks off on January 25.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cPopey\u2019s been brilliant as vice-captain over the past 18 months or so.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really grown into the role and matured as a person and player.<\/p>\n

\u201cOllie\u2019s already shown some leadership in games for us on tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been amazing with the group and he speaks so well, such a clear thought process with the way Ben and Brendon want to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

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