Stuart Broad has just seen one of his best mates, and his fellow pub landlord, Harry Gurney retire.
They are both 34, with Broad 124 days older, so you’d be excused for thinking retirement may be on the mind of England’s second most successful Test bowler.
Well, it’s not. “I feel fantastic,” said Broad.
“Jimmy Anderson is an inspiration for me. He’s still playing at 38 and I’ve started thinking ‘why not? Why can’t I do the same?’”
Since England’s 3-1 series defeat in India over the winter Broad has spent time with his county Nottinghamshire and doing what Peter Moores - his coach and former England boss - calls “the sexy part of being an experienced player”: helping and guiding others.
That is all preparation for a summer of two Tests against New Zealand - which start at Lord’s on June 2- and five against India in August and September.
“We are a very good team in England. We’re obviously building towards an [away] Ashes series but we expect to win both series in England - it’s what we do,” said Broad.
The success of the vaccine rollout has allowed the return of spectators to sporting events, with Broad particularly looking forward to fans being at Nottinghamshire’s game against Worcestershire after seeing the “great” scenes of the FA Cup final last Saturday.
“The final just fuelled my enthusiasm to get back playing in front of fans,” said Broad.
“I can’t wait to get back and play in front of people who can enjoy the emotions of sport and enjoy live sport as it happens, the pace of it and the energy of it.”
We all have something we’ve missed during the pandemic, and can’t wait to experience again when normality returns, and Broad does not hesitate when asked what his would be.
“The moment I love fans the most is when there’s been an lbw or a review, and you are watching the big screen as a team all together and all the crowd are staring, and it comes up with three reds and it is out,” he said.
“The whole crowd and all the players go mad. That is when I missed crowds the most last summer - you miss that roar of emotion.”
“I remember in Cape Town in January 2020, it took us almost 140 overs to bowl South Africa out. We needed five wickets in the final session and the Barmy Army erupted and carried us over the line,” said Broad, who took 3-75 in the game.
“I remember feeling quite emotional at the end of that game and thinking ‘wow’, and like the fans got us a few wickets there.” (bbcsport)