Ashes: Now Stuart Broad is the 'Phantom Menace'... Brisbane Courier-Mail continues to target bowler, but it seems to be backfiring

 
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This is an Australian newspaper's response after its sledge aimed at Stuart Broad backfired spectacularly when he tore through the Aussie batting line-up.

Local paper the Brisbane Courier-Mail saw Broad respond to its “27-year-old English medium-pace bowler” wind-up by bagging five wickets on the first day of the Ashes series.

Branding him a cheat, the paper had said it would refuse to print his name in match reports - instead referring to him by his age and supposed bowling pace.

But the headlines – combined with a hostile atmosphere from the home crowd – served only to spur him on.

Broad had to endure persistent booing and insults from the Aussie fans but removed opener Chris Rogers with his seventh ball and then silenced the crowd by taking the next three wickets as well, including Australia captain Michael Clarke.

England's Stuart Broad bowls during day one of the first Ashes Test at The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday November 21, 2013. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only; Strictly no commercial use; No transmission of sound or moving images; No use with any unofficial third party logos. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.

The England paceman finished with five for 65, leaving the hosts on 273 for eight on the first day of the play. He walked into the post-match conference with a copy of the Brisbane Courier-Mail cheekily tucked under his arm.

The following day’s copy saw editors forced to portray Broad as the “phantom menace”, cutting him out of a picture showing jubilant England players celebrating with him as he bagged yet another Aussie wicket.

Broad said: “There’s been a lot of build-up, a lot of talk, but we put everything else aside and focused on the game. I was preparing myself for a bit of stick but it’s nice to come away with picking up some wickets.

“You could easily walk away with none for 100 after being abused all day, but it certainly feels better with five for 60-odd.”

Broad has been caricatured as a pantomime villain in Australia ever since the outcry over his refusal to walk when he edged a catch at Trent Bridge during the summer series.

He faced some criticism for his perceived lack of sportmanship and was accused of “blatant cheating” by Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

Only this week Australia batsman David Warner — who punched England’s Joe Root in a Birmingham branch of Walkabout last summer — called Broad a “sook” — Aussie slang for a crybaby.

Broad’s performance was the perfect response to months of barracking from the Australian players, fans and media and sets England up strongly for the rest of the Test. Even the Aussie fans had to respect the figures and applauded Broad off.

The England bowler said the sledging was all in good humour adding: “The Aussies are good sports fans, they like to see tough, hard cricket. They like to give the opposition a bit of stick but they respect good sport.”

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