Stuart Broad is cherishing the opportunity to pull on an England shirt again at Soccer Aid almost a year on from a fairy-tale finish to his cricket career. (More Cricket News)
Broad bowed out last summer in memorable fashion, clinching a Test victory over Ashes rivals Australia with his final delivery before retirement.
Despite exiting elite sport on the crest of a wave, a feat all too few achieve, this ardent Nottingham Forest fan cannot hide his enthusiasm to head back into battle for his country at Stamford Bridge on June 9.
바카라To put on an England shirt again, even if it바카라s not a cricket one, will feel pretty cool,바카라 he told the PA news agency.
바카라I바카라ve no doubt I바카라ll have that competitive spirit back. I don바카라t think it ever leaves you. I바카라m at peace with the way I finished at The Oval, if I tried to play another 100 games I바카라d never get that high again, and I achieved my goal of finishing on my own terms rather than being told by a coach or selector that time was up.
바카라I didn바카라t leave with any bitterness, just brilliant memories. But one of the things I바카라ve noticed from stepping away from the game is how little you realise about the pressure you바카라re really under.
바카라It can be quite addictive, that feeling of being under pressure to perform. Soccer Aid is all about raising money and awareness for UNICEF and what it does for children all over the world, but whenever you put a professional sportsperson on a field those competitive juices flow.바카라
The 37-year-old is ready to embrace that familiar feeling as he eyes up a place in Redknapp바카라s defensive line. Broad made a handsome career as a fast bowler but he plans to pit himself one on one with an opponent who really cornered the market when it comes to speed.
바카라I바카라ve been playing five-a-side on Monday nights, but it바카라s a little bit of a step up marking Usain Bolt,바카라 he said.
바카라I saw Harry and he told me 바카라I바카라ve heard Usain has a bit of pace바카라, so I바카라ll need to work on that high line. I바카라d probably class it as diving in at the deep end, playing at the Bridge in front of a full house, live on TV, with some of the world바카라s best talent.
바카라It바카라s not doing things by halves. I바카라m looking to present myself as a no-nonsense centre-back, win my aerial battles and if I get in trouble just kick it out. I might wear a Forest under-shirt to keep the passion up.바카라
While Broad does not feel any pangs of regret about his retirement he admits the start of England바카라s Test summer could be a challenge to his equilibrium. He has no immediate plans to fill the void by stepping into any formal coaching role but is enthusiastic about working with the next generation and sharing his experience.
바카라I바카라ve not massively missed the playing side yet but seeing the England lads walk out at Lord바카라s or the Test at Trent Bridge, that will probably be the time I go, 바카라Wow, I don바카라t do this anymore바카라,바카라 he said.
바카라If you go straight into (full-time) coaching, you바카라re almost travelling more than the players, but I want to stay part of the game. I바카라ve gathered a lot of knowledge over my time playing 167 Test matches and I want to share that with people. The exciting thing for me is talking to bowlers at the start of their journey바카라if they can take five per cent from me that grows them as bowlers, that바카라s great.
바카라Whether I do that by stepping back in at grassroots level with Nottinghamshire, or speaking to the England Under-19s, it바카라s just about getting the knowledge I gained from 20 years of playing out of my brain and into theirs.바카라
:: Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024 takes place on 9th June at Chelsea바카라s Stamford Bridge, with tickets available at
