Stuart Broad labelled Jonny Bairstow’s extraordinary innings in England’s win over New Zealand on Tuesday the “most outrageous hour I've seen in Test cricket” – and hoped it helped those attending on free tickets fall in love with the game.
England won by five wickets to wrap up their first series under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum with a game to spare. They did so in style, knocking off a target of 299 in 50 overs, with 22 to spare.
Bairstow, with 136 from 92 balls, and Stokes, who hit the winning runs, did the bulk of the damage, especially in a post-tea blitz. Broad praised McCullum’s calming influence.
“Baz’s [McCullum] team talk was very much ‘let's attack the danger; let's run towards the danger’ and every part of your mind is going for this win,” said Broad.
“At tea today, the way he spoke 2-3 minutes before the bell, he didn’t say I’d prefer to lose than draw, but it was that mindset – it was going for a win at all costs. I want to win, find your way to do that. You have my full backing, Stokes’ full backing to go get the win.
“Whoever is to come, the changing room has full belief that you can do your job to get the win. So it was never really a case of, if we lose one we might shut up shop. It was always we're going to win. And if it doesn't work, don't worry about it, but we're going to go for the win.
“But I didn't quite expect to see what I saw from Jonny. It was the most outrageous hour I've seen in Test cricket from a partnership. Obviously Headingley [2019] had incredible nerves. I felt sick watching that tight thing with Leach and Stokesy.
“But that was just exhilarating, astonishing. Trent Bridge giving out free tickets. I'm sure there were people in this ground who have never watched Test cricket before. How inspiring is that?
“It was just breathless. I feel pretty exhausted after it. But nothing better as a cricketer coming to day five. The uniqueness of Test cricket with all three results on the table just brings a feeling like you’re properly alive and that's why you play. The news filtered through last night that there's going to be a big crowd and yes, it was immense.”
Broad revealed more of what it is like to play under McCullum.
“I think a huge positive we've had in the last two tests is we're out of these sort of restrictive bubbles and we're able to make everything a lot more free flowing and fun,” he said. “But there's no doubt that Baz has had an impact already. Just look at his playing career with New Zealand and the impact he had on the style of cricket.
"It’s a very positive language in the changing room. It's very forward thinking. All about how to move this game forward. Even at tea, four down with the game in the balance slightly, I've certainly been in changing rooms in the past - and this is no dig – that would be shut up shop time.”
