Broad is one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year

England paceman Stuart Broad insists he will be fully prepared for the ICC World Twenty20 despite choosing to give the Indian Premier League a miss.

Team-mate Kevin Pietersen had suggested that the IPL would have given England's bowlers valuable Twenty20 experience.

"I don't agree at all that England's bowlers will be underprepared because we're not in the IPL," said Broad, 23.

"It would have been better to play more Twenty20 cricket leading into the World Cup, but I needed a rest."

Broad made a decision last December that he would not put his name forward for the IPL auction, which allowed teams to sign new players for the current season.

Fellow fast bowler James Anderson also opted out and although Tim Bresnan and spinner Graeme Swann - who will also be in England's squad for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean - were in the auction, they were not picked up by any of the IPL franchises.

606: DEBATE The IPL in this case is more then just a multi-million dollar mickey mouse tournament. It can provide valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of fellow international players nimp69

Broad, whose last competitive match was the second Test in Bangladesh which ended on 24 March, said: "The IPL is something I'd like to do in the future, it's a fantastic tournament, but I just felt that this year after the tour to Bangladesh and with a hectic year ahead I just needed a little break.

"I lost quite a bit of weight over there - about 4 kgs - mainly because of the heat. I've been trying to get more weight on and have been doing some lifting in the gym.

"But I've been feeling fresh after overcoming a few aches and pains from the winter and I'm looking forward to the Caribbean."

Broad, one of four England players to be named among Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year earlier this week, said the entire squad is determined to improve their poor record in ICC limited overs competitions.

England suffered a humiliating defeat by the Netherlands in their opening game when they hosted the World Twenty20 last year.

Although they still reached the Super Eights phase, and managed to beat holders India, England lost to South Africa and West Indies and failed to make the semi-finals.

"In the changing room we're aware of our record and it's something we've talked about in the past," said Broad. "We certainly have a really good chance out there.

"We won't put extra pressure on ourselves by thinking we've not won these sort of tournaments before, but if we can get a really good start and carry that momentum through we could maybe go all the way like Pakistan last year."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version