Stuart Broad ‘starts new journey’ in entirely different sport after retiring from cricket following Ashes heroics
STUART BROAD has “started a new journey” in a new sport after calling time on his cricket career.
Broad memorably ended his career in style when he took the wicket for England‘s fifth test win over Australia that allowed England to draw The Ashes.
Many speculated what his next move would be after leaving cricket behind, with the former England a huge favourite over the summer to appear on Strictly Come Dancing.
But his next move has in fact seen him put down one bat for another as he dips his toe into the world of baseball.
The England legend shared a clip of him in a Philadelphia Phillies baseball top and being trained by MLB legend Chase Utley.
The clip showed Broad being put through his paces both with the bat and in practising his pitching.
Broad’s journey will be a part of the BBC‘s coverage of the MLB post-season this October, which sees teams compete for a place in the World Series.
Speaking to The Mirror, Broad said that he definitely sees parralells between cricket and baseball.
He said: “I had never ever held a baseball before, which is mad really because ultimately I think cricket and baseball are quite similar sports – I’ve even described my job to Americans as the English version of baseball!
“It was a really cool experience to go from being a complete beginner to getting taught skills by a World Series winner with the Philadelphia Phillies. I’ve suddenly found myself pretty engrossed in the sport.
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When asked who he thought could make the transition from cricket to baseball best in the England team, he singled out Jos Butler and Ben Stokes.
Broad said: “Jos Buttler is probably one of the best strikers in cricket to deep midwicket. I told him if he was born in America, he would have been a high-quality baseball player. He’s had a go at it but kept hitting the ball on the offside.
“Pitching-wise, I would say someone like Ben Stokes because he’s so strong I think he’d pitch a fastball really well, although he probably wouldn’t be into the curveballs. They’re the two I think would be very good at baseball if cricket wasn’t their number one.”
The former cricketer said that while he was a novice to the game, he’ll now be backing the Phillies in the post-season after hanging around with MLB legend Utley.
He said: “From hanging around with Chase, I’ve now got a Philadelphia Phillies shirt and a cap which I have to admit I wore in my home village to go and get a coffee, and I felt pretty cool about it.
“The fans are crazy in terms of the atmosphere, spirit and the love of sport in Philadelphia so, now I have the cap and shirt, I’ve got my eye on the Phillies.”