vallierojas: Stuart Broad's instincts will be tested to limit as England captain

England's new Twenty20 captain will need to control his emotions at times when he has 'lost it' in the past

Leading England out for the first time on Saturday will be a great moment for Stuart Broad. When he says, "I'm very honoured; it's very exciting. I'm really looking forward to it", he is not just spouting the bleeding obvious to keep the hacks happy. For him this is special.

But does it matter to anyone else? The role of the specialist Twenty20 captain in modern cricket is fleeting and peripheral. It acquires immediate significance only once every two years when all the teams convene for the Twenty20 World Cup (the next one is in Sri Lanka in the autumn of 2012). Broad, who may not be a natural liberal democrat, is a minor part of the new coalition.

Yet in another sense captaining a Twenty20 side is the toughest assignment in cricket. Everything happens so fast. One mistake and two balls later the match can be gone.

In Test cricket there is plenty of time; in 50-over matches there is a bit of time; in Twenty20 there is none. The captain has to follow his instincts. Plans have to be concocted on the hoof. We wait to see whether Broad's instincts are sound.

Broad overcame another little injury scare during Friday's training session, having bruised his heel in the third Test at the Rose Bowl. "There was an awkward moment when I fell over a medicine ball trying to take a catch and twisted my ankle slightly, but that is fine and so is my sore heel [on the other foot]." The impression is that he would try to hide a broken leg in order to lead the side out against Sri Lanka in Bristol.

It will be an unusual experience for him. He was almost being economical with the truth when he said his experience of captaincy in professional cricket was "pretty limited". He has never captained anyone as a professional cricketer. "I was picked for England young so there has been no chance. But my mindset has always been to think like a captain when I am out there." When pressed it was established that Broad, who turned 25 today had captained sides at school.

He said he had learned from the captains he has played under ? Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and the man he succeeds, Paul Collingwood, who would love to be in Bristol. "Colly was heartbroken to lose the job," Broad said, "but he has been very supportive. He was the first on the phone."

So there are many questions, even though Broad says he is "100% ready". But then he would. How will he control his emotions given there are times when he has "lost it" with errant fielders in the past? Nasty fast bowlers are allowed to do that occasionally, but not captains.

"I won't lose my passion but I'll be watching my behaviour. Those moments have become rarer and rarer," he said.

Broad is not about to overhaul England's Twenty20 strategy, given the national side's recent record. "I don't have to change much. It is not so long ago that we were on a world record run of Twenty20 victories," he said. But we were assured that he would be his own man and that he was keen on "role clarity", whatever that is.

How will he react when the ball starts flying everywhere? In Alastair Cook's first outing as a one-day international captain in Bangladesh early last year there was a moment when he was suddenly surrounded by half a dozen advisers all seemingly offering different theories of how to keep Tamim Iqbal quiet. It did not look good.

Whom will Broad speak to?

As a rare phenomenon in modern cricket, a bowler/captain, it is not so surprising that Broad says he will be a bowler's captain. "It is important for the captain to be open to ideas, but the key is to talk with your bowlers. The bowler knows where he is going to try to deliver the ball."

The best tip that he has received so far came during a round of golf with David Hussey, who now captains Nottinghamshire in the Twenty20. "He said you have a bit more time out there than you think and that you should not be afraid to take time out to speak to the bowler." The next step is to know what to say.

The return of Michael Lumb at the top of the order gives the feel of a World Cup reunion ? only Collingwood, Ryan Sidebottom, Michael Yardy and Tim Bresnan, who would be in the team if he was fit ? are missing.

Out of their squad of 13 players Broad and his selectors will probably choose between Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright, and Chris Woakes and Steve Finn for the final places in the XI.

There is enough grass on the pitch to encourage the pace bowlers to deliver a few "length" deliveries at the start of the Sri Lanka innings.

Once it is all over Broad will hand the reins over to Cook, who has not been at Bristol. Broad does not see a problem in that and reminds us "I'll still be involved and able to help as Cook's vice-captain".

Broad has become the first cricketer to express any enthusiasm for the two Twenty20 ODIs against West Indies, which have been suggested for the third week in September.

"I'd like any chance to learn and gain more experience," he added. "The thought of two more Twenty20 games at the end of the season is pleasing."

A viewthat probably leaves him in splendid isolation.

Vic Marks

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds