Broad v Mills

Date released: 24 June 2008

Stephenson: took two New Zealander wickets recently for MCC The third of our player v player analyses, compares England's Stuart Broad with New Zealand's Kyle Mills. The two will meet in the England v New Zealand one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday 28 June.

MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson is a former England international. His county career took in spells at Essex and Hampshire, as captain.

Having already examined the captains, Stephenson gives his opinion on two bowlers: England’s Stuart Broad and New Zealand’s Kyle Mills:

Stuart Broad

Bowling stats - 29 ODIs; 3 at Lord's

Batting stats

^{Stats from CricInfo's StatsGuru}

Familiar sight: Stuart Broad celebrating a wicket For me, Stuart Broad has been England's greatest recent discovery.

The ECB management team have handled him really well too, not rushing him in too soon. It's really starting to pay off now.

There were a few eyebrows raised when, on the tour of New Zealand, England's two senior quick bowlers, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were left out with Broad and James Anderson coming in. A handful of Tests later and it's hard to see how those two experienced bowlers can force their way back in.

What has impressed me most about Broad though isn't his bowling, batting or even his fielding - it's his attitude.

In just a few short years he's gone from second XI cricketer to England international. Young male cricket fans want to be him, female fans have posters of him - there's already talk of 'the new Flintoff' in the media and the old Flintoff is still around!

Despite it all Broad has kept his feet on the ground and that's a credit to him, the ECB management and his family. His Dad Chris knows the travails of international cricket pretty well himself.

It would have been easy for him to let it go to his head, to lose focus or to stop working at his game - but he hasn't. It's a good job too as despite his potential he's still a fair way from the finished article.

Comparing himself to Mills may not do him any harm. Mills' career has been wrecked by injuries - a reminder of how precarious the career of a cricketer is.

Despite that, Mills has still notched ODI five-for hauls. Those are the real match-changing contributions.

Broad can do it - he's clearly got the talent but it's now time for him to stop striving to get into the England team and to start striving to win matches for them.

Kyle Mills

Bowling stats - 82 ODIs; 0 at Lord's

Batting stats

^{Stats from CricInfo's StatsGuru}

In full flow - Kyle Mills People often accuse England's attack of lacking the fire in their bellies to become really great. Ryan Sidebottom snarls occassionally and Jimmy Anderson is mostly all smiles.

It's not an accusation you could level at Kyle Mills. He has the quick temper to go with his quick bowling. It's not got him into serious trouble yet, so you'd have to say he has the balance right.

He's certainly troubled the England team during their trip to New Zealand and now the Black Caps' return tour.

His four wickets in England's second innings at the Test in Hamilton was largely responsible for England's collapse and the Kiwis' victory.

He got all four of England's openers: Cook, Strauss, Vaughan and Pietersen - as a captain you'd be delighted with that from your strike bowler.

He can bat a bit as well, as that 57 at Old Trafford in the second Test over here showed.

He can do it in the shorter format too. His 47 at the County Ground in Bristol came off just 40 balls and included two big sixes. Coming in to bat at nine, that's more than useful.

Consistency is the key though and he's yet to find that during this tour.

The verdict

I'm going to plump for the Englishman again. Stuart Broad just has too many assets to be overlooked: height, pace, bounce, intelligence - and he can bat and field too.

Mills can be dangerous on his day but I think Broad is likely to have more good days, especially as he gains more experience.

What do you think? Would you pick Broad over Mills? If not, why not? Send us your comments and opinions, we'll publish the best ones: live@lords.org

Next up

MCC Head Coach, Clive Radley compares the team's two most explosive batsmen: Kevin Pietersen and Brendon McCullum.

Read it exclusively, on Lords.org on Wednesday.