The former England opener, Guest Speaker at our Autumn Supper, began in good humour, privately confirming in advance his agreement to being introduced – light-heartedly – as “Stuart Broad’s dad!”
He trumped that by suggesting that when initially taking our phone call he was asked if he believed in free speech. When he confirmed that he did, the next question was, “Good. So will you come to speak to us for nothing?!” Hmmm..
Chris debuted at a tricky time for English Testcricket in1984. The fact he arrived at the Grace Gates at Lord’s and wasn’t allowed in initially as the gateman didn’t recognise him, wasn’t an encouraging start: “After four successive Tests, my record was played four, lost four.”
That was the series that became known as ‘The Blackwash’ when the West Indies virtually steamrollered England and, as a consequence, “I was ‘rested’ for two years!”
But what a comeback in the 1986/87 Ashes tour. Broad became only the third Englishman to score 100s in three successive Tests in Australia, helping him to reach a final Test average of around forty in 24 Tests.
His combative and passionate nature attracted some criticism. But this was the same man – as Match Referee – who was caught up in the terrorist attack when Sri Lanka were touring Pakistan and questioned security levels.
That forthright nature emerged significantly in later years with his shock revelations about being told to give India extra leeway re their over rates. Never mind Stuart, Chris is definitely his own man.
Chris is seen here with Ali Saad, our Programme Secretary