'Hate' Stuart Broad is supported by the director



Alastair Cook wants Stuart Broad to continue as he is, even if it means he ends up "hating the numbers" for the Australian people.

Broad upset some when he refused to walk after cutting off Ashton Agar at Trent Bridge last week.

As England bowed on the last day of the Ash opening match, he looked up again and seemed to be trying to get out of the morning session by taking off his shoes and starting slowly.

Cook did not attempt anything at the post-game press conference to explain the final. But with a famous 14 point win, when England was preparing a second Investec test on the Lord tomorrow, his boss made it clear he did not want Broad to change.

"He's an excellent fighter, and I think that's one of the reasons he's so successful in international cricket."

Broad has become accustomed, especially with football, to a behavior that changes the rules of the game when England needs it the most - and two in 2013, Ashes will face Cook perfectly.

Recalling the unusual kidnapping of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting with British troops in the past, Cook returns to Broad to hold the pipes when he comes to support the tour.

"Whether you call him an idol or something else, there's always someone on the side - he was Ricky Ponting a few years ago," he said.

"Broady is Broady, he's a good cricketer and he can do anything."

Broad suffered a shoulder injury in the Nottingham test at the end of the season after being hit by a late James Pattinson ball.

But he continued to show, by the ball and the ball, that he was cured.

"We all know that in the attack-men-children, you must all stop sometimes to take a wiki.

"Broady has done it over and over again, and he locks in 200 yards and every time he fights for his position when he's under pressure, he always comes to our rescue."

Broad's decision not to relocate was just one of many pipelines affected by the DRS or other tri-level controls at Trent Bridge.

"I am very surprised how many conflicts have been caused," Cook said.

"But the bottom line is that not all players seem to have problems."

When asked if his English players were under strict instructions from the captain when they thought they had gone out, he replied, "No, nothing - I would not expect a player market."

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