Stuart Broad returned with four wickets in the recently concluded Test between England and New Zealand at the Lord’s Stadium, London. The pacer, in the first innings, delivered a fiery over, getting rid of three key Kiwi batters and tilting the game in the host team’s favour. 

Ben Stokes and co eventually won the match by five wickets. 

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Broad and James Anderson, two of England’s highest wicket-takers in Test cricket were dropped from the squad after Joe Root and co lost the Ashes 4-0. The team then toured the West Indies and lost 1-0. They had won only one out of their last 17 red-ball matches and lied as low as the ninth rung of the World Test Championship table. 

The captain and coach was changed. Stokes and Kiwi legend Brendon McCullum came into the picture. England recalled Broad and Anderson back to the team. 

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After his brilliant show in the first Test vs New Zealand, Broad dismissed rumours of beef between him and former captain Root. There were reports of a rift after the pacer was dropped from the Caribbean tour. 

“Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain and I said to him how much he’s meant to me as a captain, and what a privilege it was playing under him,” Broad told reporters on Tuesday. 

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He described Root, who is no longer the English Test captain, as a great friend. 

“I told him I hope he really enjoys the next few years. He’s already a legend of the game… Joe and I are great friends. I can’t fall out with someone because they don’t pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic.” 

The second Test of the three-match series between England and New Zealand gets underway at Trent Bridge on Friday.