England bowler, Stuart Broad on Sunday (29 July) said even the groundstaff wouldn't be able to predict how the 22-yard strip would behave during the first Test against India, as searing heat soaked all the moisture from the Edgbaston pitch.

"It will be a really exciting series as both teams don't know what the pitch will do neither the groundsmen really know because probably they haven't experienced this sort of weather in England for a long time. The lack of moisture that has been around, players will have to adapt," Broad addressed the media ahead of first Test, starting 1 August.


For Broad, every ground from Trent Bridge (Nottingham) to the Lord's will pose different challenges, and the bowling unit that adapts quickly will have the upper hand.

"The bowling side that can quickly adapt will have more success. (Need to) realize what's the threat. Is it spin, reverse swing, or knee roll seam? We will be discussing all the way through.

"Each ground will be different. Trent Bridge might be very different to Lord's. Lord's (track) traditionally in last couple of years have spun quite a lot. Bowlers like Yasir Shah, Moeen Ali have got 10-fors. At Trent Bridge, it doesn't turn that much. So we need to use different skills for different grounds for sure," said the 32-year-old, who has 417 wickets from 117 Tests.

Broad, however, refused to predict as to how the series will pan out.

"It's impossible to tell how the series will go. If the pitches are spin-friendly, the spinners will take a lot of workloads. Seam bowlers would not have many overs through them, but that will be a wrong mindset to go in thinking that 'I would just want to play five Test matches'. You want to go in there fit and firing in each and every Test match every time," said Broad.

Terming India as a standout side, Broad said consistency throughout long periods would be key to success in a marathon five-Test series.

"India is a stand outside in world cricket, and they have got some wonderful players, who have adjusted to conditions to all around the world," Broad said.