Playing As All-Rounder Can Destroy Career of Stuart Broad - - Said Former Australian Legend Shane Warne

LONDON - Former Australian legend Shane Warne has urged the England team to avoid promoting fast bowler Stuart Broad as an all-rounder, as he reckons it would ruin the youngster’s career.

Warne said expecting too much out of Broad could be counter-productive for the team during the tour of South Africa.

“If England want to ruin Stuart Broad, it strikes me that they may be going the right way about it. Somebody tell me that he won’t bat at number seven for the Test series in South Africa. Looking at the squad announced last week, it looks as if the selectors may be leaning that way, when it could be the worst thing to happen to the guy,” The Independent quoted Warne, as saying.

“I’m not bagging Broad, because he has the makings of being a good player. He is a decent bowler and a reasonable batsman - just not an international all-rounder. By thinking that he is, England risk taking his focus away from what he is learning to do well, first and foremost to support frontline bowlers, then to chip in with runs,” he added.

Warne further said that Luke Wright’s selection for the tour was an unexpected decision as he has been struggling.

“If he is going for experience, then fine, because at 24, he is still young and might offer something down the track,” Warne said.

“At the moment he is a bits-and-pieces player who is not worth his place with either bat or ball. To move forward he needs to bat at number five and bowl first change regularly for Sussex,” he added.