Two years have passed since the non-walking incident at Trent Bridge, and Stuart Broad continues to be Australia’s most hated man in world sport.
During the first Test of the 2013 Ashes series Broad edged spinner Ashton Agar to first slip but refused to walk after being given not out by umpire Aleem Darr.
Why was more scrutiny not placed on the terrible umpiring decision? Why wasn’t more spotlight placed on Australia having no reviews left?
“It’s an interesting debate, the walking one,” said Broad following the incident in 2013.
Did he blatantly ignore traditional cricket sportsmanship? Yes. But so did now-retired Australian captain and champion Michael Clarke.
During the second Test against India in the 2007-08 summer, Clarke edged Anil Kumble to first slip to be dismissed first ball. Yet he lingered at the crease, waiting for the umpire to give him out formally.
Do we detest him for showing a similar vein of sportsmanship? No.
This is not a piece to belittle Clarke – he is an Australian champion and should be shown respect.
But since that 2013 incident, Broad has proved himself again and again the ultimate competitor. In the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia, the Englishman finished as England’s leading wicket-taker with 21. He charged in and gave everything he had in the face of continued defeat, eventuating in a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
While the likes of James Anderson and Graeme Swann seemingly gave up, Broad battled through injury to represent England.
He showed the heart of a man who loves to play for his country. He played along with the crowds, as they hurled abuse at him around every venue in Australia. He stirred up the media. He did it all with a smile on his face – much as Mitchell Johnson has during the recent series in England.
As Australia stared down defeat during the third Test, Johnson pulled out of a delivery twice to add to the drama of the game. Brilliant. The Barmy Army jeered and cheered, relishing the spectacle.
So why don’t we afford Broad similar respect? Here is a man who claimed 8/15 to spur his side to win back the Ashes – a colossal effort – yet on social media he is still labelled a ‘wanker’, a ‘tosser’ and a ‘deadest shit bloke’.
Off the field, Broad helps run ‘The Broad Appeal’, a foundation set up to aid the research and support of those suffering motor neurone disease. Since 2010, the foundation has raised over $500,000.
Yet comments on the Cricket Australia Facebook page link to Broad’s foundation say things such as “still didn’t walk” and “he’s a tosser”. That says more about the Australian cricketing public than Broad’s decision to remain at the crease two years ago.
You don’t have to like him, but at least afford him the respect his performances on and off the field demand.
Australians love a battler, someone who gives 100 per cent every time. Stuart Broad ticks all those boxes, and a few more.
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