STUART BROAD: England’s positive group mentality is why they’re riding high on confidence

My daughter Annabella turned one month old on Saturday and being a first-time dad is indescribable. I certainly don’t have a word to describe the feeling I experienced during the first 20 minutes after she was born. It was just complete satisfaction.

Of course, I opted out of the Pakistan tour to be home with Mollie and our newcomer, knowing that I would have regretted not being around during this incredibly special period.

When you don’t have children and you hear some people say that becoming a parent is the best time of your life, you kind of think: ‘Right. IT’S OKAY. So not that five percent on Trent Bridge?

I wouldn’t be out of this newborn bubble for nothing. Available at all times to change a diaper. Trying to sleep a few hours, or even just a few minutes, whenever I can. Crawling around the house petrified, even the noise of a boiling kettle could wake this 3.5kg bundle of joy.

Numerous teammates over the years have flown home from cricket matches abroad after a birth, so I feel very lucky to be in this position.

England manager Brendon McCullum is the one I have to thank for giving it to me and I feel lucky to be 36 and not 23 because at the start of an international career when you’re fighting for every inch of recognition you get, you probably can. Not even considering paternity leave as an option.

Parenthood has meant getting up at 3am every day and it has coincided with the very nice experience of seeing England from afar.

I can’t think of another international team whose style of play would have allowed them to force a result at Rawalpindi in the first Test – the way four batsmen set things up with quick hundreds, giving the time in the late game to take those last few 10 wickets was incredible.

And they have raised the bar. Yes, this is more or less the same group of players that won six of the seven Test matches in the summer. But they have entered completely foreign conditions and arguably made Pakistan look like the away team.

The challenge was always going to be to go abroad and replicate what we did in our country in 2022.

The message in the locker room will have been to attack more, be more aggressive and take the game forward.

Nothing summed it up better than the first day performance in Multan. A first innings score of 281 may not sound like much, but consider that it came in just 52 overs.

Many teams I’ve played for would have had 120 total in the same period, doing what Pakistan did: block their way and show ‘some fight’.

That kind of old-school approach can meet the demands of the supporters, but it also creates pressure for you, and when you make a mistake you can suddenly lose six wickets for 20 runs and the game is over.

In contrast, England’s batting on the first day caused Pakistan to bowl bad balls and also gave their players something to bowl.

The highest praise of all came from Ramiz Raja, Pakistan’s chairman of the board, when he said his team needed to play a little more like England.

We really feel like we can win from any position. Twelve months ago those feelings did not exist, so yes, it has been an incredible turnaround, but the change has not been technical or tactical.

It’s just about the positive and energetic mentality within the group. England teams had won six home tests in a previous summer, but not in quite the same style.

And they certainly haven’t gone to Asia, or put in performances like they have so far, so you can understand why Rawalpindi has been talked about as one of, if not the greatest, victories in Test history. our country.

In style and execution it was incredible and while it may not be England’s most important victory, it would be hard to think of a more impressive one.

This is an environment that everyone wants to be a part of. I’m really looking forward to getting on the plane on January 28 for the two-test series in New Zealand.

Then there’s the big summer that’s also whetting everyone’s appetite, or everyone outside of our locker room. The Ashes is not something we are focused on right now.

It’s a lot every day. We will concentrate on trying to win the next game ahead of us. Brendon’s big line is to stay where your shoes are. Do not wander to distant things.

This is how he trains and how he wants his team to play, so I think it would be a mistake for any player to think of Australia. I am excited to report for international duty again.

People ask how hard it is to change your mindset when you’ve already played over 150 Trials in a different way.

Well, as a player at 36, it’s a lot of fun. Almost like playing for your club on a Saturday and paying five cents to play, but keeping the prestige and honor of winning another cap.

I feel very fortunate that this is the style of cricket that I will be involved in as I combine being a new father with playing for England in the twilight of my career.