Broad says he is a better bowler thanks to Yuvraj’s bashing in 2007 T20 World Cup

SYDNEY - England fast bowler Stuart Broad has admitted that being hit for six sixes in an over by Indian middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh has helped him in his sharp progression in the past three years.

Broad was hit for six sixes in the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, which allowed Yuvraj to reach his half-century off only 12 balls.

“It was obviously an awakening. I was quite fortunate I went to play cricket straight away in Sri Lanka, got on with cricket straight away. I think I finished as England’s leading wicket-taker over in Sri Lanka, [and] it gave me confidence,” the Age quoted Broad, as saying.

“It also taught me, in ODI cricket, not to bowl the same ball twice. Early doors you can bang out [a consistent] length, but you’ve got to be unpredictable at the death. It’s made me a lot better bowler,” he added.

The “awakening” has served the 24-year-old well, as he is now ranked as the world No.4 bowler in ODIs and 11th in Tests.

The only pace bowlers to rival that feat are his teammate Jimmy Anderson (sixth in Tests, ninth in ODIs) and Australian Doug Bollinger (eighth in Tests, seventh in ODIs), although he is comfortably the youngest of the trio. (ANI)