England cricket legend Stuart Broad makes shock appearance on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special… and impresses fans with his performance covering his beloved Nottingham Forest

• Stuart Broad is the second most successful fast bowler of all time in Test cricket 
• He grew up in Nottingham while his father played cricket for Nottinghamshire
• Would Mohamed Salah ‘do the dirty’ on Liverpool by leaving? And what about Man United ‘diving’?: Listen to ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ , Mail Sport’s new podcast

Stuart Broad put in an impressive showing on Wednesday night covering his beloved Nottingham Forest on Sky Sports News. 

The former England fast-bowling legend announced his immediate retirement from cricket at the end of the recent Ashes series in July, making the transition into punditry with Sky. 

He ended his career as the second most successful fast bowler in Test matches with 604 wickets – second only to long-time new ball partner Jimmy Anderson, on 690. 

But rather than featuring for the broadcaster as England’s white ball team took on New Zealand at Chester-le-Street in the first of three T20I clashes with New Zealand, he made an appearance discussing the Tricky Trees. 

The legendary cricketer was quizzed on his affiliation with the club which started at a young age, and admitted that he was hopeful his daughter would grow up to support the Premier League outfit too. 

Stuart Broad announced his retirement from international cricket before the end of the Ashes

Broad has long been a fan of his hometown club Nottingham Forest and hopes his daughter grows up to share his love of the club

The legendary former England bowler was tasked with providing updates from Burnley’s trip to Nottingham Forest

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‘I was born in Nottingham, my dad played for Nottinghamshire, but I got a season ticket in the era of David Johnson and Marlon Harewood up front, Gareth Williams in midfield, and Michael Dawson was a young centre back at the time – that’s when I really fell in love with going to the City Ground,’ said Broad on Sky Sports. 

‘It was so special getting into the Premier League last year. We’ve been close for a while, but to actually get over the line and get out of the Championship is one of the hardest things you can do. 

‘It brings me so much joy to be able to follow Forest in the Premier League. It took me 23 years as a supporter to see Forest play in the Premier League, but took my daughter just one day to see us win three points. I’m hoping she’ll be a Forest fan too!’

As a result, Broad was tasked with providing updates from Forest’s Carabao Cup second round clash with Burnley.

The two Premier League rivals met at the City Ground, with the first half ending 0-0 after a largely quiet meeting on Wednesday night. 

And viewers were quick to celebrate the ex-bowler’s performance on the programme, with many claiming that he seemed a natural addition to the show’s regular line-up of pundits. 

One wrote: ‘Stuart Broad is 10/10 as a football pundit.’

Another added: ‘Stuart Broad effortlessly settles into soccer special , comes across really well.’

Broad’s performance on Sky Sports News came in for rave reviews from viewers on Wednesday

A third agreed, stating: ‘Stuart Broad, an England international cricketer most his life, is a better pundit than 90 per cent of Sky’s pundits over the last 20 years.’

A fourth said: ‘Jesus Christ. Stuart Broad has been a football pundit for two mins and has already made more sense in his summary of the game than Paul Merson. Maybe the way forward? People who don’t even play the same sport.’

A fifth viewer was similarly impressed, adding: ‘Did Stuart Broad retired from test cricket so he could become a football pundit??? He’s decent.’

And a sixth was full of praise for the 37-year-old, writing: ‘Stuart Broad is as natural a pundit as they come.’ 

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