Chris Broad is a former England opening batsman who played 25 Tests and 34 ODIs between 1984 and 1989, most famous for scoring three consecutive Ashes centuries in 1986-87. He later served as an ICC match referee from 2003 until February 2024, officiating 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is .
Early Career and International Debut
Born on September 29, 1957, in Knowle, Bristol, Broad developed as a left-handed opening batsman through English county cricket . He made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire in 1979 and later played for Nottinghamshire, building a reputation as an aggressive top-order player .
His Test debut came against the touring West Indies at Lord’s in June 1984 . Broad scored 55 in the first innings of that match, sharing a 101-run opening stand with Graeme Fowler, though he fell for a duck in the second innings as England lost . The performance hinted at his potential against high-quality fast bowling.
The 1986-87 Ashes and Career Peak
The 1986-87 Ashes tour of Australia transformed Broad from a promising opener into a historic figure in English cricket. He scored three consecutive centuries across the Test series, joining Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond as the only batsmen to achieve that feat in an away Ashes campaign . His 162 at Perth against Geoff Lawson and Bruce Reid stood out as the finest of his four Ashes hundreds .
Broad finished the series with 487 runs at an average of 69.57 and was named man of the series as England secured the Ashes . The Guardian described his achievements as putting him “in an exclusive club alongside Jack Hobbs and Walter Hammond,” while Wisden later noted that his three successive Ashes centuries “plant him firmly” among the format’s notable southpaws .
Playing Style and Disciplinary Issues
Broad’s attacking instincts made him effective when conditions suited him, but his temperament drew scrutiny. Contemporary reporting highlighted his brash behaviour and visible frustration after dismissals, including an incident in the 1988 Ashes when he smashed the stumps after being bowled . His form declined sharply after the 1986-87 peak, and he was dropped from the England side for disciplinary reasons .
He played his final Test against Australia at Lord’s in June 1989, scoring 18 and 24 . Broad retired with 1,661 Test runs at 39.54 and 1,361 ODI runs at 40.02, a record that reflected genuine ability tempered by inconsistency .
Notes on verification: The information regarding his late wife Miche and her passing is sourced from the BBC and coroner reports . The specific education field relies on a cricket profile database rather than a primary news source . Net worth and social media presence for Chris Broad are not documented in authoritative publications.
Transition to Match Refereeing
After retiring from playing, Broad moved into cricket administration and officiating. He made his debut as an ICC match referee in 2003, overseeing a match between Pakistan and New Zealand . Over the next two decades, he became one of the most experienced officials in the game, handling 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is before his contract ended in February 2024 .
In September 2023, the ICC marked his impending 350th men’s ODI as match referee, noting that he was only the second person to reach that milestone after Ranjan Madugalle . The achievement underscored his longevity in a role that demands constant travel, disciplinary judgment, and diplomatic skill.
The 2009 Lahore Attack
Broad’s refereeing career included a moment of extreme danger. In March 2009, he was travelling in the officials’ van behind the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore when terrorists attacked the convoy en route to the Gaddafi Stadium . Broad described hearing “popping sounds” before local umpire Ahsan Raza shouted for everyone to get on the floor .
The driver of Broad’s van was killed, and Raza was shot in the chest . Broad later told the BBC that the vehicles were left like “sitting ducks” and that promised security had “vanished” during the attack . In a 2024 interview with The Telegraph, he revealed that unexpected loud bangs still made him jump, and the incident fundamentally changed how he viewed the security responsibilities of his role .
Family and PCA Presidency
Broad’s son Stuart Broad became one of England’s greatest fast bowlers, surpassing his father’s international achievements with 167 Test matches and over 600 wickets . Chris Broad spoke to BBC East Midlands Today upon Stuart’s retirement in 2023, calling him “a shining light” and expressing the family’s immense pride in his performances and public conduct .
In August 2011, Broad succeeded Sir Ian Botham as president of the Professional Cricketers’ Association for a two-year term . The PCA appointment recognised his standing within the English game and his willingness to represent players’ interests after his own playing career had ended.
Legacy
Chris Broad’s career resists a single narrative. As a player, he produced one of the most dominant individual Ashes series in English history, then faded amid disciplinary problems and loss of form. As a referee, he built a second career of remarkable durability, officiating at the highest level for over twenty years across a period of significant change in international cricket. His son’s achievements have ensured the Broad name remains central to English cricket, but Chris Broad’s own contributions, both with the bat in 1986-87 and with the notebook in the decades that followed, stand independently as a significant chapter in the sport’s administrative and competitive history.
What was Chris Broad’s most famous performance as a player?
Chris Broad’s defining moment was the 1986-87 Ashes series in Australia, where he scored three consecutive centuries and amassed 487 runs at an average of 69.57 . His 162 at Perth against Geoff Lawson and Bruce Reid was widely regarded as the best of his four Ashes hundreds . That performance earned him man of the series honours and cemented his place among Ashes southpaws .
How many international matches did Chris Broad officiate as a match referee?
Broad oversaw 622 international matches across formats during his refereeing career from 2003 until February 2024 . That total comprised 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is . His contract was not renewed by the ICC after the Colombo Test in February 2024, ending a tenure of more than two decades .
What happened to Chris Broad during the 2009 Lahore attack?
Broad was travelling in the officials’ van behind the Sri Lankan team bus when terrorists attacked the convoy en route to the Gaddafi Stadium in March 2009 . The van’s driver was killed, and local umpire Ahsan Raza was shot in the chest . Broad later told the BBC that the officials were left like “sitting ducks” and that he lay on the floor of the vehicle for seven to ten minutes as bullets struck the van .
Is Chris Broad related to Stuart Broad?
Yes, Chris Broad is the father of former England fast bowler Stuart Broad . When Stuart retired in 2023 after 167 Tests, Chris described his son as “a shining light” during a remarkable 17-year career . Chris himself played 25 Tests and 34 ODIs for England between 1984 and 1989 .
