Hat-trick hero Broad revels in return to form

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]



NOTTINGHAM: England seamer Stuart Broad said his "confidence was back" after taking a hat-trick against India in the second Test at Trent Bridge here on Saturday.

The 25-year-old fast-medium bowler wreaked havoc with the new ball, having India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni caught in the slips, trapping Harbhajan Singh lbw and then clean bowling Praveen Kumar to become only the 12th England bowler in 134 years of Test cricket to take a hat-trick.

He was also the first bowler to achieve the feat against India and the first to do so in a Test at Trent Bridge, the 25-year-old fast-medium bowler's Nottinghamshire home ground.

Broad saw his treble propel him to Test-best figures of six for 46 -- a return that included a stunning spell of five for no wicket in 16 balls.

The final victim in Test cricket's previous hat-trick, achieved by Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle against England in Brisbane in November, Broad had earlier claimed the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, caught at first slip by Andrew Strauss for 16.

That meant Tendulkar was again left searching for an unprecedented 100th international hundred.

But India still built a lead thanks to Rahul Dravid, whose 117 was his second century in as many Tests after his 103 not out at Lord's.

The advent of the new ball, taken by England as soon as it was available with India on 258 for four, turned the tide with the tourists losing their last six wickets for 21 runs.

"We knew that new-ball period would be a huge hour for us," Broad said. "Strauss asked as at tea if we could raise our intensity during that hour to put some pressure on the Indian batsman.

"Fortunately there was some swing and the edges came our way. We've got ourselves back in this game.

As for his hat-trick, Broad said: "It was something that hasn't particularly sunk in.

"I think it's my third but we are going back to Oakham Schools Under-15s for the last one. It was a nice feeling but it won't mean much if we don't go on and win this Test," Broad, the son of former England opener Chris, said.

Broad's haul came after he top-scored in England's first innings 221 with 64 batting at No 9.

"The confidence is back," said Broad. "I don't think I bowled particularly badly at the start of the year, I just didn't have much luck."

Venkatsai Laxman, the 'other' member of India's celebrated batting trio, made a useful 54 on Saturday.

England though were convinced Laxman was caught behind for 27 and asked for Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf's not out decision to be reviewed.

But the Hotspot technology in use this series detected no edge.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, on social networking site Twitter, then asked: "Has Vaseline on the outside edge of the bat saved Laxman's day?" amidst concerns the substance can 'fool' Hotspot.

However, Broad said: "I think it's just HotSpot, we've found the really faint edges don't show up. It's just one of those.

"I actually had a cheeky feel of his edge when the ball went past, but there was no Vaseline or anything on there."

England closed on 24 for one in their second innings, still 43 runs behind, and Broad added: "It will be a massive day tomorrow.

"We need to bat big and one guy needs to get a big hundred then we are right in the game because bowling last on that wicket could be an advantage for us." (AFP)