Ashes comment: Stuart Broad plays within the rules but outside the spirit of cricket

COMMENT: STUART Broad is fast developing a reputation as a prat, the spoilt prefect who is never out.

STUART Broad is fast developing a reputation as a prat, the spoilt prefect who is never out.

He behaves like the type of kid who would take his bat and ball and go home if he was caught in the backyard.

Broad was last man out yesterday after a spirited 48-run partnership but his dismissal during the second day of the second Test at Lord's became high farce.

AUSTRALIA IN DEEP TROUBLE

Privately annoyed that Broad hung around during the first Test at Trent Bridge after edging the ball to Michael Clarke at first slip, the Australians have lost respect for him.

They showed it yesterday when Broad belatedly decided to review a vocal caught behind appeal off James Pattinson.

Batting partner Graeme Swann began walking towards the pavilion as if leaving the ground and some of the Australians began to head off for the change of innings.

So when Broad decided to stay and take his chances, the Australians simply turned their back on him and began heading off.

COACH READS THE RIOT ACT

They were almost at the gate when umpire Marais Erasmus upheld the original appeal, prompting Broad and Swann to run off through the bunched Australians.

Broad has done nothing technically wrong during the early past of this series but he needs to have a serious look in the mirror about the way he wants the game to remember him.

Will it be as a fine Test cricketer, an opening bowler and dangerous lower order batsman?

Or will it be as the cricketer who played within the rules but outside the spirit?

AUSTRALIA'S AMATEUR HOUR

Staying for a feathered edge to the wicket-keeper is one thing. Edging a ball that ends up at slip is a seriously bad look.

The spirit of cricket, which is the official preamble to the laws of the game, is more mythology than reality.

If batsmen get a fine nick they rarely walk, leaving the decision to the umpire, although technology has made it harder for batsmen to hang around.

And fielding teams often appeal for dismissals which aren't out in an attempt to bluff the umpire.

The latest came early in Australia's innings just before lunch when Jimmy Anderson beat Shane Watson and the whole team roared with delight, gathering near the pitch to celebrate.

But when umpire Kumar Dharmasena gave Watson not out the fieldsmen all stood and looked at each other.

If they were that convinced it was out England should have referred the decision to video umpire Tony Hill.

However, after a brief chat they all wandered back to their fielding positions.

With each team allowed only two wrong reviews per innings England did not want to waste one, so clearly this was just a try on. It is something most teams do most of the time.

The most annoying part of Broad’s behaviour in this series was when he took his boot off just before lunch on the last day at Test Bridge as Australia was running down an unlikely victory target.

It was a churlish version of soccer's professional foul as Broad attempted to prevent another over before the break and it didn't work anyway.

He should just get on with the game.