Stuart Broad Biography

Stuart Broad Biography

Stuart Christopher John Broad (born 24 June 1986 in Nottingham) is a cricketer who plays Test and One Day International cricket for England and is currently the captain of their Twenty20 team. A left-handed batsman and right-arm seam bowler, Broad's professional career started at Leicestershire, the team attached to his school, Oakham School; in 2008 he transferred to Nottinghamshire, the county of his birth and the team for which his father played. In August 2006 he was voted the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year.

He was a vital member of the victorious 2009 Ashes squad, and he won Man of the Match in the fifth Test at the Oval, after figures of 5/37 in the afternoon session of the second day. His bowling was also instrumental in helping England win the 2010 ICC World T20. On 30 July 2011, at the Nottingham Test match against India, he achieved a Test match hat trick in the process gaining his best Test figures of 6–46. As a batsman, he holds the second-highest ever Test score made by a number 9 after his 169, his first century in first-class cricket, against Pakistan in August 2010.

Broad originally started his career as an opening batsman, following in the footsteps of his father, the former England opener and current ICC match referee Chris Broad. It was not until he was 17 and had a growth spurt that he started to consider being a fast bowler. Broad had been associated with Leicestershire since he was 8 years old having represented them at Under-9 level. Broad learned most of his adult cricket at Melton Mowbray club Egerton Park who also produced England seamer Tim Munton. He played for the club from the ages of 9–19; in his final two seasons he opened the batting with fellow Leicestershire player Matthew Boyce and spearheaded the attack. He was awarded with the Leicestershire Young Cricketers Batsman Award in 1996.

Broad was a pupil at Oakham School, a co-educational independent school in the market town of Oakham in Rutland, where he was in the same year as England Rugby back-row Tom Croft. Broad finished his school career with three B grades at A-level; given the choice of a place at Durham University or a contract with Leicestershire County Cricket Club, he chose the latter.

He previously dated former Miss England Laura Coleman and actress Kacey Barnfield. Broad's sister Gemma works for the England team as an analyst. He supports Nottingham Forest F.C. and Leicester Tigers. Stuart's stepmother Michelle "Miche" Broad died of suicide having motor neurone disease on 7 July 2010. Broad attended Oakham School and was in the same year group as England and Lions rugby player, Tom Croft.