Chris Broad has backed Trent Bridge to shine when the 2013 Investec Ashes Series begins in Nottinghamshire in July.
Broad, a regular in the Nottinghamshire side between 1984 and 1992, scored 12,386 runs for in 173 first class appearances for the Club in addition to six hundreds in his 25 Test appearances for England and retains fond memories of his clashes against Australia.
“My first time in Australia was twenty years ago and although we were all motivated to beat them, there was nothing like the amount of hype that will surround the contest this year,” he said.
“International cricket is very important for Nottinghamshire and you only have to be in and around the area in the build up to a major match to appreciate the enormous buzz that these matches generate."
“An Australian tour is something every cricketer dreams of being involved in but the stature this contest enjoys now is entirely different and rightly so because we’re in an era of increased professionalism with much more at stake.
“Reputations of teams and individual players are on the line in every single match and cricket supporters want to see a ‘Battle Royale’ and that’s exactly what Ashes series have become.”
Broad visited Trent Bridge this week to take in the striking ground development that has taken place during the winter months. A second replay screen part-funded by a grant from Nottinghamshire County Council has replaced the old scoreboard in the corner between Radcliffe Road and Fox Road, making good on a key promise detailed in Nottinghamshire’s successful bid to stage Investec Ashes Test Matches in 2013 and 2015.
“The new replay screen looks fantastic and I’m sure the members will be delighted because every seat in the venue will now have a prime view of replays and a very detailed scoreboard,” said Chris.
“International cricket is very important for Nottinghamshire and you only have to be in and around the area in the build up to a major match to appreciate the enormous buzz that these matches generate.
“The media sing the praises of Trent Bridge and Nottinghamshire in general and rightly so because a lot of thought and hard work has gone into making the venue what it is today.”
Broad’s son, Stuart, the Nottinghamshire and England quick, will be expected to play a leading roll in any English success in the series.
“He’s a very talented cricketer and every time I watch him play I feel extremely proud,” said Chris.
“He loves playing cricket and he deals with the highs and lows extremely well. He realises now that sometimes the ball creeps past the bat and sometimes it hits off-stump and whether that’s to your advantage or not there is need to keep doing the right thing again and again until you make the breakthrough.
“It would be foolhardy to predict the way the series is going to go because all bets are off when you have two teams with such a will to win. The first team to get on top will have a huge advantage and hopefully I’ll have some free time to take in the game.”
Trent Bridge will host the opening match of the five-game series from Wednesday 10 July with members and new members enjoying exclusive access to tickets for the final day. All public seating sold out within hours of going on sale.