Broad defends his right to reply to Vaughan blast

LEEDS: Stuart Broad’s war of words with Michael Vaughan continued Sunday as he insisted he had the right to hit back at criticism from the former England captain.

Vaughan made waves before the ongoing second Test against Pakistan at Headingley by suggesting that either Broad or James Anderson, England’s two all-time leading Test wicket-takers, be dropped to “ruffle some feathers” after the hosts’ nine-wicket defeat at Lord’s.

But after each of the veteran new-ball duo took three wickets apiece in Pakistan’s first-innings 174 at Headingley in a match England must win to end the series all square at 1-1, Broad revealed he had phoned Vaughan to discuss what he thought were “targeted” and “unfair” remarks.

Vaughan, commentating on BBC Radio’s Test Match Special, then in turn responded on Saturday by reminding Broad his comments “may come back to bite him” and that England had not yet won at Headingley. Broad has now had a further say in his column for Britain’s Mail on Sunday newspaper.