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XtraTime Web Desk: England fast bowler Stuart Broad is trying to follow the advice of his mother in order to prepare himself well ahead of the test series coming up against West Indies next month starting July 8. Broad is also regularly communicating with the team’s psychologist David Young, trying to prepare himself mentally to play cricket in times of the pandemic.

England and West Indies will be involved in three test matches next month. All the tests will be played behind closed doors which have never happened before. At the same time the England bowler reminded they are used to playing in front of less crowds in county cricket and championship matches.

Sharing his thoughts about playing in front of empty stands Broad said, "I think the games will feel a bit different with no crowds. International cricket certainly will be more of a mental test to make sure each player is right up for the battle, and I'm very aware of that. Even the county matches that we play have less crowds.”

Broad is in regular touch with team psychologist David Young.
"I've already spoken to our sports psychologist about creating a bit of a mindset around making sure I can get my emotions up to where they need to be for me to be at my best. I've got to make sure my emotions are where they need to be for an international Test match, and that's something I started working on in early June,” added Broad.

The England bowler is also following the advice of his mother to focus himself during this situation.
According to Broad, "My mum said something to me before I left. She said: 'take yourself back to being a 12-year-old kid when all you wanted to do was to play cricket anywhere you could'.

He added, "It’s about getting that mindset right when we're playing a Test match for England, but when you were a 12-year-old kid, you'd have done anything to play cricket.”