Kevin Pietersen backs Broad to be England's McGrath

England quick Stuart Broad was hailed as a 'Glenn McGrath in the making' by Kevin Pietersen after starring against New Zealand in the opening one-day international here at the Riverside.

Pietersen grabbed the lion's share of the headlines with a man-of-the-match winning 110 not out as England thrashed the Black Caps by 114 runs to go 1-0 up in this five match series.

But Pietersen was glowing in his praise of Broad who took two for 16 in eight overs as New Zealand, chasing 308 to win, were bowled out for 193.

The way in which Broad removed dangerous opener Brendon McCullum for 36 with his first ball, a short delivery outside off-stump which the disbelieving batsman cut straight to Ian Bell in the covers, was perhaps more reminiscent of Ian Botham than McGrath.

But an initial burst of two wickets for 11 runs in seven overs certainly bore a resemblance to the kind of display often associated with the Australia great.

"The way Broad bowled, I am not going to leave this press conference without pumping his tyres," said Pietersen.

"He bowled magnificently well, absolutely brilliant. Seven overs, two for 11 is smashing.

"I have been thinking for a long time that he is a Glenn McGrath in the making," added Pietersen, whose previous one-day international hundred came against an Australia attack featuring the New South Wales ace in Antigua during last year's World Cup. "He hit his straps today and it is exactly how McGrath was as a bowler, exactly the same, I was very impressed."

McGrath, who retired last year after helping Australia beat Sri Lanka in the World Cup final in Barbados, bowed out being recognised as the supreme fast-medium bowler of his generation and one of the best cricket has ever seen.

Renowned for a remorseless off-stump line and his ability to move the ball late off the seam, McGrath's 563 Test wickets left him fourth in the all-time standings and are the most taken by any pace bowler.

Not only did he routinely dismiss top-order batsmen but his wickets came at a miserly average of just 21.64 apiece. He was equally effective in one-day internationals with 250 wickets at 22.02 The 6ft 5in Broad, the son of former England opening batsman Chris, has some way to go to match those figures. In his six Tests the 21-year-old has taken 16 wickets at more than 40 apiece while his 40 one-day international wickets have come at an average of over 28.

One aspect of McGrath's career which Broad might think twice about copying was the Australian's fondness for predicting the outcome of a Test series.

McGrath famously said before the 2005 Ashes that Australia would win 5-0 only for them to lose 2-1.

It turned out that McGrath was just one Ashes series too early, with Australia completing a clean sweep of the old enemy in his final Test campaign, in 2006/07.

Broad will hope his bowling can do the talking for him when Australia arrive in England for next year's Ashes.