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'I Would Make A No Ball A Free Hit...,' Broad Comes Up With Innovative Idea For Test Cricket

image-ll56ylpgStuart Broad celebrates a wicket in his final Test (Twitter)

Stuart Broad, who recently retired as one of Test cricket’s most proficient fast bowlers of all time, has proposed a new concept to be introduced in the format. The Englishman has suggested an introduction of free-hits in the red-ball game, a rule which as of now is only applicable in limited-overs cricket.

The former pacer proposed his pitch while having a candid conversation with ex-teammate James Anderson, alongside cricketer-turned-commentators Simon Doull and Nick Knight.

Stuart Broad Bats For Free Hits In Tests

Test zealot Stuart Broad, upon announcing international retirement, has pitched in the idea of extending the free-hit rule in the red-ball game.

The legendary pacer believes the rule would add an element of excitement to the format for the spectators. He also stated that implementing free-hits in Tests would serve as punishment for the bowlers for over-stepping from their bowling mark. While attending a candid conversation for Sky Sports in their coverage for the ongoing 2023 The Hundred season, Stuart Broad said:

“In Test cricket I would make a no ball a free hit too, because you might have your three slips and gully in and cover in and all that, but if you bowl a front foot no ball – it’s easy to say now [that] I’m done, isn’t it? Punish the bowlers – but I would make every no ball a free hit because how good would it be to be sat in the crowd with all the fielders around the bat and then the batter could just whack one out of the ground?”

Free Hits were first introduced to the sport through T20 cricket. Receiving acceptance from fans and players alike, the rule was later expanded to 50-overs format.

Meanwhile, Stuart Broad recently retired from Test cricket, just a match after completing 600 wickets for England. He, alongside former teammate James Anderson are the only fast bowlers in Test history to achieve the landmark figure.

Broad also played an influential role in his final Test, which also happened to be the decider of the 2023 Ashes in England. Off the back of the pacer’s spell, the hosts romped home to victory and levelled the five-match series 2-2.