Stuart Broad flies to the United Arab Emirates this week to prepare for the lengthy tour of India, which includes a four-Test series against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar. Before the tour gets under way, the all-rounder spoke to Orange about the tour, Kevin Pietersen and bungee jumping.
You're heading off to India for a Test series so it seems obvious to ask you what you made of Felix Baumgartner's jump from the edge of space?
It was incredible and with his family watching when it all could have gone wrong and stuff like his blood would have boiled. Amazing stuff, I love things like that.
So are you tempted to do anything similar?
When I was young I did a sky dive but I'm not sure the ECB would let me do something like that again. A bungee jump doesn't appeal except for one reason. Matt Prior and I have this deal that if he does something daring I have to do the same. He jumped off a 10metre platform diving board so I had to do it. I know he hates the idea of a bungee jump so, if the ECB gave us permission when we're in New Zealand, I'd like to give it a go just to see him have to go through it afterwards.
It's not all glitz and glamour, though, the touring business is it? You're not back home for a while are you?
Yeah, I worked out the other day I spent about 285 nights a year in hotel rooms. I'm away now until just before Christmas and then I go again at the start of January. In fact, I'm away for most of the time until April. Thankfully I've got a mum who's great and organises all my stuff.
What are your expectations for the Test series against India?
Well, we've not won a Test series there in my life time. The last one was in 1984/5 so it shows it's not an easy thing to achieve. But we want to win, we believe we can win and the aim's to get back to being the No.1 side in the world. We played against them last year and scored a lot of runs so we're confident but it's a tough place to play.
How tough?
Well, the crowds are quite lively for one and things can be quite lively on Twitter. Most people you get are solid enough but you get some that are, shall we say, less than complimentary. Then you normally go there and fully expect to get ill. Saying that, I went to Sri Lanka for the World Twenty20 and in three-and-a-half weeks didn't get ill once. Saying that, I'll now get really ill in India. If I do, I'll blame you.
Having lost the No.1 spot would you say the England teams better as hunters or the hunted?
Well, it would seem hunters wouldn't it? We didn't adapt very well to be the No.1 Test side but hunted that down very well. I'll think we'll learn from that and be better when we get another stab at the top spot.
Will it be odd having no Andrew Strauss out there with you and how do you think Alastair Cook will be as captain?
It'll be very strange not having Straussy there as I've played most of my Tests under him. He's been a huge character in my career and I really enjoyed playing under him. So it will be strange to start with but I think Cooky will do a good job. He just needs to make sure he's his own man and not someone else.
How was your captaincy experience in the Twenty20?
I'd like things to have gone better but I thought we learned a lot as a young side. It was a tight tournament. Just look at New Zealand who didn't win a game in the Super Eights but could have won two had one ball gone differently. But we didn't quite realise our potential as a team.
Looking to India, a lot's been made of the Kevin Pietersen saga. Will you be happy to have him back and has the whole thing blown into something much bigger than you ever expected?
It took off more than I thought but hopefully it's all been properly resolved now and we can get back to talking about and playing cricket. KP's a great player and I've never had a problem with him. He's a great addition to any side, it was just about Andy Flower finding the right time to bring him back into the side.
