Broad’s spell is one of the best I’ve ever seen: Kapil Dev

Legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev has come out in complete praise for England seamer Stuart Broad following the latter’s bowling spell against the Indians, a spell that saw him claim 4 wickets. According to India’s World Cup winning skipper, any bowler bowling, as well as Broad, was on the day needed to have a big heart as well as be consistent despite not getting any swing.

Kapil Dev also went on to add that Broad’s spell was one of the best he had seen in quite a while, something that also comes very rarely. The 30-year old England pacer’s spell saw him dismiss Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Speaking to The Hindu, Kapil Dev observed, “First of all he needs a big heart. Then, he needs to be consistent. Even if the ball does not swing, he has to try and hit the seam. Always remember, a ball moving a foot will not get you wickets but a delivery that deviates just six inches may get you the nick.”

On Broad’s spell on day four, he noted, “It was one of the best spells I have seen in India by a fast bowler in a long time. He bowled some very good cutters, leg-cutters in particular, using his wrist. Bowling here is not about reverse swing alone.

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Kapil also added the importance of studying a batsman. “There is a split-second pause in his action which gives him time to study the batsman, see his initial movement and then release the ball. Such bowlers are tough to face.”

“Broad sent down eight overs without losing intensity. These days it has become fashionable to give pacemen just three or four-over spells. You take an over to get warmed up and after that, it is over too soon.”

Kapil also added a few things about the way Mohammad Shami bowled stating that he was very impressed with Shami’s bowling acumen. “My length varied from batsman to batsman. I used to study them. Those days there was no video analysis but your brain is the biggest computer,” he said on his own bowling.

On Hardik Pandya being a part of the Indian Test squad despite an ordinary first-class record, Kapil said: “He needs to bowl a lot more in first-class cricket, not just four overs. Hardik must not confine himself to just one-day and Twenty20 cricket. I think the BCCI must send him to England to play county cricket for a season.”

On Ashwin, Kapil observed, was a genuine all-rounder. “I would give him ten out of ten in batting and bowling. The only thing against him is that he is not an athlete on the field.”

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