Broad makes it simple

Stuart Broad is enjoying his experience in Sri Lanka with bat and ball © Getty Images

As England arrived in Colombo 2-1 up in their one-day series against Sri Lanka, Stuart Broad reflected on his role in England's nail-biting run-chase at Dambulla as he again showed his calmness under pressure.

It wasn't a new position for Broad when he walked in with his team tottering on 107 for 7, needing another 57 to win. During the summer he and Ravi Bopara guided England home at Old Trafford, Broad finishing on an unbeaten 45. At the tail-end of England's World Cup campaign he was again in the middle, hitting the winning runs when they pulled off a consolation one-wicket victory against West Indies in Barbados.

"I was quite lucky, because in only my sixth game I was in that position in Bridgetown - with an amazing atmosphere - and had an opportunity to win the game," said Broad. "I've been lucky that every time I've been in that position the run-rate hasn't been a problem, and we've been able to go at threes and fours and fives and win the game that way.

Broad explained how he learnt his approach to chasing down targets from former Leicestershire team-mate Paul Nixon during his spell as England's one-day wicketkeeper. "Having been there before helps with the approach. Paul Nixon was instrumental in trying to look at things in 10s, because he's a great believer in little targets to get where you want to go.

"If I know I need four to reach my little target it's a lot easier than thinking we need 50 to win. Batting with him at Bridgetown was a big learning experience - and then I took his cues and took them into my game."

"I enjoy batting and the challenge of it. I take very little steps; I go in 10s - and whoever I'm batting with, we look at needing seven to reach 130 or five to get to 140. It makes your target really small and it doesn't seem such a long way away."

Broad, who is making a strong case for inclusion for the Test series in December, continues to show remarkable maturity in all aspects of his career. He has even come to terms with being taken for 36 off an over by Yuvraj Singh during the World Twenty20 in South Africa.

"It was obviously not a pleasant experience, but I didn't lose any sleep over it," he said. "It was at the back of my mind pretty quickly. It was quite nice coming to Sri Lanka straight away, and I could focus on my practice for 50-over cricket. It happened - I can't get away from that - but I think I've come back pretty strongly."

The only cloud on England's horizon is surrounding Paul Collingwood who went for a scan on his right shoulder after the team arrived back in Colombo. During the first ODI he dived for a catch in his followthrough and jarred himself on the ground.

He has managed to bowl 15 overs in the following two matches but is still experiencing some pain and the medical staff have taken the opportunity to have him assessed. There doesn't appear any great fear over the injury and results are expected on Tuesday.