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Broad was a key member of the ICC World Twenty20-winning squad

In fact, at the time of his interview with me - barely a week before England play - he does not even know whether he will have the honour of bowling with the new ball this summer in ODIs.

"I've played 60 one-day internationals," he says. "I've opened the bowling 30 times and not opened the bowling 30 times. I feel I have the ability and the attributes to do both and am happy doing either.

"You always need different skills, slower balls and cutters, and you need to vary your pace. After four or five overs the white ball doesn't swing and you've got to find ways to get wickets."

Broad actually seemed to relish not taking the new ball during . He recollects: "I had the first change role, to be quite heavy and aggressive." And while the injury to Ryan Sidebottom makes Broad more likely to share the new ball against Australia with James Anderson, Tim Bresnan may yet be preferred.

With the uncertainty about specific roles so close to a World Cup (it starts next February), I suggest to Broad that the selectors and England's management need to settle on a core group of players now.

There is, after all, a slight sense of chaos theory in terms of batting selection - Ian Bell in, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott out - and the wicketkeeping berth, which has been

Broad does not answer my point directly, though he says there are "between 15 and 20 players who we know can perform" and suggests that any new arrivals, far from being overwhelmed or daunted, will instead take it as a cue to replicate the best of their county form.

"The formula of the selectors in the past year or so has been to pick players who have ability and temperament, and back them. When you're being backed by the hierarchy you have a lot less fear of failure and you can go out and express yourself.

"If you want to hit the first ball over the top for six you know the whole team's backing you to do that, it's a strong place to be as a team. We've had Eoin Morgan and Craig Kieswetter coming into the side and scoring one-day hundreds. That's important."

England start off their summer ODI campaign with an interesting trip to Edinburgh on Saturday to take on Scotland, but the Australians are the obvious draw card.

So what about Ricky Ponting's team? Beaten by England in last summer's Ashes and the final of the World Twenty20, they nevertheless remain the team to beat in 50-over cricket with a 6-1 series success here last summer the prelude to

While the bowling attack looks a little thin in terms of experience in English conditions, an awesome batting unit - featuring Ponting, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Cameron White and Shane Watson - will surely make up for that.

"They are such a dangerous team with amazing players, but it's up to us to not focus on Australia too much and look at what we've done well in the past year," says Broad.

"There's a new-found confidence and momentum in the changing room. Australia will be very tough opponents but it's up to us to hit them hard with our skills.

"Everyone's excited about getting going. We have a new formula with one-day cricket which led to us winning in South Africa - I think we were only the second side to win a series there - and then Bangladesh. It's up to us to continue that momentum this summer."

Broad also answered some questions , and here are his answers:

From "Is there ever a day you don't wake up and regret leaving Leicestershire?"

Broad: Grace Road holds a very fond place in my heart. I played for the under-10s, though I got left out of the under-16 squad, and really enjoyed my time there. I had a really good coach in Tim Boon and learnt a lot from the likes of Darren Maddy and Paul Nixon, but division one cricket was where I needed to be to be playing my international cricket so my move to Notts was a hugely positive thing in my career.

From : "What do you think of being able to play as yourself in a video game?"

Broad: "It's good fun if a little bit surreal. I always make sure I'm captain and open the batting and bowling. It's amazing how lifelike the players are. There's a new game which is very good and I'm sure in the England changing room a lot of guys will be playing it throughout the summer."

From : "Will the gym time over the past few weeks increase the speed that you can bowl, or was it just a strengthening exercise?"

Broad: "I don't think it will increase the speed that I bowl particularly, because I think speed comes from rhythm and technique. But it's important to have strength and I think it will minimise my risk of being injured and enable me to hold my speed up throughout a Test match. I am looking to bowl at around 88mph with full control, with an effort ball into the 90s."

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