Chris Broad (cricketer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chris Broad

Personal information
Full name	Brian Christopher Broad
Born	(1957-09-29) 29 September 1957 (age 67) Knowle, Bristol, England
Nickname	Walter, Broodie, B-Road
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right arm medium
Role	Opening batsman
Relations	Stuart Broad (son)
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 506)	28 June 1984 v West Indies
Last Test	17 June 1989 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 90)	1 January 1987 v Australia
Last ODI	24 May 1988 v West Indies
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1979–1983	Gloucestershire
1984–1992	Nottinghamshire
1985/86	Orange Free State
1993–1994	Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 25 34 340 319 Runs scored 1,661 1,361 21,892 10,396 Batting average 39.54 40.02 38.07 34.76 100s/50s 6/6 1/11 50/105 11/68 Top score 162 106 227* 122 Balls bowled 6 6 1631 1027 Wickets 0 0 16 25 Bowling average – – 64.81 36.80 5 wickets in innings – – 0 0 10 wickets in match – – 0 0 Best bowling – – 2/14 3/46 Catches/stumpings 10/– 10/– 189/– 82/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  England ICC Cricket World Cup Runner-up 1987 India and Pakistan
Source: CricketArchive, 24 December 2007

Brian Christopher Broad (born 29 September 1957) is a well-known English cricket official, a sports commentator, and a former player. He was part of the England team that finished as runners-up in the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

As an opening batsman, he played 26 Test matches for England. He scored six centuries in these matches. He also played 34 One Day International (ODI) matches, averaging over 40 runs.

Chris Broad is especially remembered for his amazing performance during the 1986/87 Ashes series. In that series, he hit three centuries in a row in different Test matches. He was also known for his strong personality on the field.

Broad's children are also involved in cricket. His son, Stuart Broad, is a famous fast bowler who has played for both England and Nottinghamshire. His daughter, Gemma, worked as a performance analyst for England's One-Day team.

Early Life and Cricket Career

Chris Broad was born on 29 September 1957, in Knowle, Bristol, England. When he was 15, he had a bone infection called osteomyelitis. This health issue slowed down his early development as a cricketer.

He made his first-class cricket debut for Gloucestershire in 1979. The next summer, he earned a regular spot on the team. In 1984, he moved to play for Nottinghamshire. He also played for Orange Free State in South Africa during the 1985–86 season.

Broad returned to Gloucestershire in 1993. He retired from playing cricket at the end of the 1994 season because of a hip injury. He studied at St Paul's College, Cheltenham.

Playing for England

Broad played his first Test match for England in 1984. This was the second Test against the West Indies at Lord's. He opened the batting with Graeme Fowler and scored 55 runs. Their opening partnership was 101 runs.

In the 1986 Ashes series, Broad made a big impact. He started quietly but then scored 162 runs in the second Test at Perth. He followed this with 116 runs at Adelaide and 112 runs at Melbourne. He ended this tour with 487 runs and three centuries. Scoring centuries in three consecutive matches was a rare achievement for an English player at that time.

Broad also made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 1986 against Australia in Perth. He scored 76 runs in that match, and England won.

During a tour of Pakistan in 1987, Broad had a disagreement with the tour manager. This happened after he refused to leave the field when he was given out. He was also known for showing his frustration on the field, like when he knocked his stumps over after being bowled out in 1988.

He played his last match for England in 1989. In total, he played 25 Test matches, scoring a high of 162 runs and averaging 39.54. Interestingly, all his centuries were scored outside England: four in Australia, one in New Zealand, and one in Pakistan.

Cricket Official Role

In 2003, Chris Broad was chosen to be a match referee for Test matches and One Day Internationals by the International Cricket Council (ICC). His first assignment was the 2003–04 series between New Zealand and Pakistan.

In 2009, Broad was the match referee for a Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. During the second Test in Lahore, the convoy of vehicles he was in was attacked. He reportedly showed great bravery by trying to protect an injured umpire during the attack. After the incident, he and umpire Simon Taufel spoke about the need for better security for players and officials. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians died in the attack, and six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured.

In 2023, Broad posted a social media message about his son Stuart dismissing David Warner in Test cricket. This post was later removed.

The Broad Appeal Charity

Chris Broad's second wife, Miche, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2009. She passed away the following year. To help others, Chris, along with his children Stuart and Gemma, started a charity called "The Broad Appeal" in February 2011. The charity aims to raise awareness and money to help fight MND.