Stuart Broad was reportedly close to retiring after England controversially dropped both him and James Anderson following the Ashes.
Broad and Anderson were axed following England's humiliating 4-0 defeat to Australia, with then interim managing director Sir Andrew Strauss stating the decision was made so they could "look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously."
The decision was widely slammed by fans and pundits alike and ultimately backfired, with England losing the series 1-0. Broad was also left furious after getting dropped, labelling the decision "unjust" in a column for the Mail on Sunday .
And now according to a report from the Telegraph , Broad was 'close to retiring and taking a job with Sky' after he was dropped. The report states that Broad would 'probably have walked away if Root had stayed in the job and England won'.
However, Root's decision to stand down as skipper, England losing the series and Rob Key's appointment as Managing Director mean both Broad and Anderson are expected to earn recalls this summer. The report states that although neither player will feature in every Test, they will be 'integral members of the squad again'.
Anderson recently returned to action for the first time since the Ashes, taking match figures of 2-55 in Lancashire's innings victory over Gloucestershire. Broad, meanwhile, is yet to feature for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship.
The 35-year-old has admitted he does not want to play too much before the first Test against New Zealand in June and he is set to make his return when Nottinghamshire host Worcestershire later this week.
"I do not currently hold an England shirt but if I want to be in the first Test XI of summer 2022 — and I desperately do — the last thing I want is to be heading to Lord's to take on New Zealand on June 2, seven Championship matches deep with the potential for carrying a niggle or feeling tired and heavy legs," Broad wrote in his Mail on Sunday column.
"Four back-to-back Test matches to start England's home summer — three against New Zealand plus the rearranged one against India — will require every ounce of fitness and so I'm trying to make sure I am in peak condition for June. If I started on April 7 and played solidly for eight weeks, I would not be, and so I have identified fixtures to play to maximise form, fitness and preparation."
