MANCHESTER, England // Stuart Broad is desperate to improve on his first outing as England Twenty20 captain when his side face India at Old Trafford today.
A one-off match against Sri Lanka in June ended in a nine-wicket defeat in Bristol, with Broad failing to contribute a run or a wicket.
"We didn't perform as well as we'd have liked against Sri Lanka," Broad said yesterday. We didn't get enough runs on the board, we don't need to look too much further into it. It's difficult in these one-off games but it's important we take these opportunities.
"We want to start really strongly, whether we bat or bowl first. There'll be a full house at Old Trafford and India are a fantastic Twenty20 side, so we've got to be on the money.
"You've got the 50-over world champions [India] and the Twenty20 world champions [England] going at each other - it's going to be an exciting game and the players are really looking forward to it."
Broad is under no illusions as to the task facing England despite India's abject showing in the recent four-Test series.
He said: "India suffered with a few injuries, that happens on any tour, but they've got a lot of talent around with the young players coming through and any side that can bring Rahul Dravid in is going to be strong."
Broad offered assurances over Kevin Pietersen's fitness after the batsman took a nasty blow while batting in yesterday's nets session.
"He's fine," Broad said. "He got hit in the throat a little bit but he's pulled up fine." Pietersen should therefore take his place in a batting line-up which could feature a handful of new faces in Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.
"They're exciting talents, they've had great domestic Twenty20 seasons and they have performed well, it's exciting to have them around," said Broad, the Nottinghamshire all-rounder.
* Press Association