Stuart Broad called up for finals

England's Next Big Thing in fast-bowling, Stuart Broad has been called into the squad for the finals of the tri-series against Australia.

Broad's been developing at an alarming rate for the last year or so, both physically and as a cricketer. The latest estimates for his eventual height are that he'll wind up about 12 feet tall. Parallel to this, his bowling's been increasingly quick and effective. No-one really knows what kind of a bowler he'll eventually become, but the general consensus is that he's the Next Big Thing.

England go through fast-bowling Next Big Things like no other nation. Broad takes over from Sajid Mahmood and Liam Plunkett, who in turn replaced James Anderson, who's still only 24.

Another Next Big Thing was Chris Tremlett who is partly-responsible for Stuart Broad's call-up having knacked (sic) his back. We missed the recent games in which he featured as we were in a rubbish non-cricketing country. From what we've heard, it's no bad thing that Broad's replacing him.

Stuart Broad's also earmarked for the 'troublesome number eight spot' in the Test side, which is a bit ludicrous because he's only hit two first-class fifties. Still, he's 'developing'.

One day England's side won't be such a work-in-progress. It's getting tiresome to hear about how they're a 'young side' and 'gaining in experience all the time'.

Will Jefferson and Stuart Broad selected for England A

Only it's not England A. It's 'England Lions'.

Ian Brown once said: "There are no lions in England". Now he's been flatly contradicted. There will be 11 Lions and Will Jefferson and Stuart Broad will be among their number.

Stuart Broad lists 'growing taller' among his hobbies. Perhaps Will Jefferson's presence will inspire Stuart to ever greater heights.

They should have renamed the side 'England Brobdingnagians'.

Stuart Broad, Leicestershire - one to watch in 2007

Good action: Long and narrow - fits nicely to the right of our writing. Lasith Malina: Bad action - too wide; interferes with the prose.

Stuart Broad keeps getting taller and faster. Working on the theory that he nearly played for the Test team last year, if he's a little bit taller and a little bit faster this year, he's a shoo-in (stupid phrase).

There are altogether too many 'promising' young fast bowlers at the moment and altogether too few fully functioning ones. Stuart Broad seems the most likely to cross that divide.

Other Ones To Watch in 2007

Stuart Broad bowls out Bangladesh A

Well, he took 3-35, which was better than anyone else. Everyone knows that this England A tour is all about Stuart Broad anyway. Stuart Broad and maybe model cricketer, Nick Compton at a push.

Mathematical novice, Graham Onions, took 2-32. We're only mentioning that because the post we've linked to is better than this one.

Bangladesh A were all out for 209. Does the writing continue below the picture yet? That's all we're aiming for. It's not a big cricket news day.