All fired up

A crisp, autumnal day at a country shooting club is as random a venue at which to find an aspiring England cricketer as any, but it was a perfect opportunity to watch at close quarters the man who many believe, with realistic reason, will eventually lead England's attack: Stuart Broad.

Accompanied by his father Chris, Broad junior arrives at the West London Shooting School looking every bit the 21-year-old: baggy jeans, polo shirt and white trainers. Unlike many of his peers, however, he is on the cusp of fulfilling a lifelong dream: he could make his Test debut in Sri Lanka in the weeks ahead.

With rifles in hand, team Broad are well ahead of the four journalists - including two from the Shooting Times.

"Let's ring his mobile," Stuart suggests, to roars of approval from us bystanders, as Chris takes aim. "Stuart, no." comes the stern reply. The pair are obviously great friends, but how influential has his father been?

"Not so much on the cricketing side," he said, "but more [giving advice on] the way I go about things. I'm not going to talk to him about my front arm or the way it came out, but I talk to him about the passion for the game. He had a lot of passion. I certainly don't want to follow his bowling!"

Broad senior wasn't shy of confrontation and even though Stuart is still an international colt, he isn't short of confidence.

"I get this hatred for batsmen," he says, quite matter-of-factly. "I don't think I've pushed the line yet, to be honest, but I don't want him to get the better of me. It's about having that fire. I'm not just there to bowl and to let them hit it. You've got to make it as difficult for them as possible.

"So I think you've got to have an aggressive nature; a stinginess, not to give them anything. Having said that, I'm not a massive sledger. I tend to have a look and a stare."

Yuvraj Singh might beg to differ, though he wouldn't receive much sympathy. It was he who walloped Broad for six sixes in that horrific barrage during the World Twenty20 in September, prompting the occasional exasperated verbal from a chastened Broad. But even that ignominy didn't appear to dent his enthusiasm or confidence too greatly. His father - with his match referee hat on - raised a cautionary eyebrow.

"It happened pretty quickly to be honest," Stuart says. "It was obviously not that enjoyable, but it was one of those things that happens in cricket, and I bounced back pretty quickly. But no, I didn't lose any sleep over it, and got over it pretty quickly."

The pair climbed into a Volkswagen Toureg - the 4WD wagon supplied to all members of the England side - and hurtled over an off-road course to test its capabilities. Broad is enjoying the perks of international recognition, even before taking his first Test wicket. The hard work begins now, but England have found themselves a fighter.