Broad 'the Fraud' takes the game to the Aussies

Australian fans make their feelings clear. Unfortunately for them, Stuart Broad is a Blo*dy Good Bowler

The man the Australians are calling Stuart Broad 'the Fraud' strikes a huge blow to their Ashes hopes with a wonderful bowling display taking 5 wickets for 65 on day 1 of the first test.

A cloudless blue sky, the bright yellow sun burning, a hostile crowd baying for blood. The Aussies yearning, aching for a chance to mock and jeer the single biggest criminal ever to set foot on their soil (well, since 1850 at any rate). The Australian papers had done their job, fermenting the anger Broad had started all those months ago when he refused to walk (correctly waiting for the umpires decision) in the first test at Trent Bridge. This action, a virtue in an Aussie batsman but the worst sin imaginable if English, was met with a shocking statement by Darren Lehmann accusing Broad of cheating.

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The Aussie press continue to create a hostile environment for Broad

The Australian press have stoked the fires started by Lehmann and their anger has now turned to hatred. The excitement of the Australian crowed, the chance to finally let Broad have it, was heightened further when Micheal Clarke won the toss and made England bowl. The time was nearly upon them, hairs were standing on end, nerves were tingling, get Anderson's over out the way and the fun would begin. I recently watched Gladiator and I feel that many in the crowed must have wished for the good old days of Rome. Then this criminal Broad would face outrages odds and certain, bloody, painful death. But, much like the movie, things didn't work out that way.

Stuart Broad had other ideas. Rather than letting all the hatred, anger and boos unsettle him, he stayed calm and saw it for what it is, pathetic jealousy. The Australians have no faith in their own team, they are so sick that their cricket fortunes have turned upside down they spend all their energy on attempting to undermine England. Attacking the way Cook captains, and Flower coaches, and, most of all, the attempted character assassination of Broad shows the desperation they feel about their own Ashes chances.

An attempted character assassination. Use http://bit.ly/1flrcml for a closer look

Broad knew this, took all they could throw at him and turned it back against them. He yet again proved his status as a world-class bowler by destroying the Australian top order, as they slumped to just 132 runs for 6. A late resurgence, a partnership of over a hundred between Haddin and Johnson, was itself broken by Broad as he clean bowled Johnson, taking him to 5 wickets for 65 runs. He held the ball aloft, slowly showing it to all corners of the crowd, soaking up the rapturous cheers from the Barmy Army. Back in the spotlight, this time for all the right reasons, he was savoring the moment. But behind his boyish grin he was clearly enjoying something far more than that. The silence of the Aussies. On the first day of the first test he had proved he is a force to be reckoned with and Australia's bully boy tactics have already failed. The ball was held high for all to see, a little longer than normal, a red warning of more to come.

The classic hero, the wrongly accused and unjustly treated, has now come through the fires and is currently on top. The English can only hope their hero won't stop here but will keep going until he has crushed the Aussies into dust.