England seamer Stuart Broad has expressed his eagerness to get the LV= Insurance Test series against New Zealand underway after joining up with his team mates at Lord’s. 

Broad has been recalled to the England squad having been omitted for their tour to West Indies over the winter. 

And the upcoming series will be the first with Ben Stokes as captain and Brendon McCullum as head coach. 

“There is a big change in the leadership roles above the team, and there are really good guys in place,” he said, “I am looking forward to getting on the pitch.

“I was disappointed to miss out on a Test tour, but that's life. I'm very forward focussed, very excited to be here.

“I'm going in with the mindset to attack each week as hard as I can, leave my heart and soul on the field, and taking myself back to [being] as if I'd played zero Test cricket.”

“[As a squad] we have been together as a squad since Monday morning and Brendon and Stokesy have led one session. There is a lot of energy and focus to get going for a busy international summer.”

Broad has played three games for Nottinghamshire this year, at Trent Bridge and Lords. He has taken 11 wickets at an average of 24.09, including four of Worcestershire’s second innings wickets in his first match back. 

He has also shown his firepower with the bat, with an unbeaten 45 in the same game. 

He will return to Trent Bridge for the second Test against the Kiwis next week, his first visit to the East Midlands since the promotion of Nottinghamshire’s West Bridgford neighbours Nottingham Forest to the Premier League

As a supporter of the club, the 35-year-old is still on cloud nine about the result, and the prospect of frequenting the City Ground next season. 

“I feel absolutely superb. Sunday was one of the best sporting days ever,” Broad said. 

“It’s a quiet winter of Test cricket so I’m eagerly anticipating the fixture list. You just have to look at the pictures yesterday of the town square for what it means to the City. 

“I am excited to be around. The chance to be at the Home of Football and Home of Cricket in the same week, if you’d had told 12-year-old me that I wouldn’t have believed you so it is going to be a great week.”

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England versus New Zealand at our historic home

From James Anderson ripping through Australia, to Joe Root and Jos Buttler tons, day four fireworks are frankly commonplace at our historic home.

Secure your seats for day four of England against world champions New Zealand here…