Forgotten and remembered fast bowling heroes deserve a better legacy

Stuart Broad and James Anderson have every right to feel proud men. In England’s colors they bowled in tandem for years, Anderson claiming 704 Test wickets and Broad, 604.

Their achievement has been recognized this week via a joint portrait that was unveiled at Lords and is to be hung alongside other luminaries of the game. Surely, there are few who would quibble at this acclaim for yeomen of their craft and country.

They are one chapter in a long line of English and Welsh fast bowlers and, so far, have not been satisfactorily replaced. When they started their careers, they were regarded as “promising,” a euphemism for maybe they will make it to the top level or maybe not.

Both needed to make their case and overcome early setbacks. Anderson survived one coach’s attempt to remodel his action, while Broad overcame the embarrassment of being hit for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh at Durban in 2007 in the inaugural T20 World Cup, aged 21. He says that this hardened his approach to the game, making him more resilient and adaptive. His father, Chris, played for England between 1984 and 1989 as an opening batter and faced the might of an uncompromising West Indies attack with bravery.

Stuart, born in 1986, was steeped in cricket, following his father around at Trent Bridge when he played for Nottinghamshire, a place he calls home. The pavilion was officially renamed the Stuart Broad end in July 2024, following his retirement from playing in 2023.

Two stands around from the pavilion is one named after Harold Larwood and Bill Voce, two other fast bowlers from Nottinghamshire. In Larwood’s case, many observers judged him to be the fastest bowler ever. This was a view held by Australian players, commentators and