Stuart Broad Reflects on Awkward Wimbledon Handshake with David Beckham After Wrist Surgery
Stuart Broad Recounts "Awkward" Handshake with Injured David Beckham at Wimbledon
By Dominic Hogan
Published: 15:46 BST, 2 July 2025 | Updated: 09:13 BST, 3 July 2025
Cricket legend Stuart Broad shared a humorous yet awkward encounter with football icon David Beckham during Wimbledon’s opening day, where the pair sported strikingly similar outfits and navigated a clumsy handshake due to Beckham’s recent wrist surgery.
Beckham, 50, underwent an operation last week to address an old injury stemming from his England football days. The procedure removed a screw embedded in his wrist, leaving him in a protective cast. Despite the injury, he flew overnight from Atlanta—where his Inter Miami team exited the Club World Cup—to attend Wimbledon’s prestigious Royal Box.
Broad, retired from cricket and now a commentator, found himself seated near Beckham. Both wore nearly identical cream suit jackets, light blue shirts, and dark brown ties. “Look at you looking at Becks there—who wore it better? You’ve copied him, haven’t you!” joked Broad’s co-commentator Nasser Hussain. Broad quipped back, “I actually think he’s copied me!”
[Image 1: Broad (back left) and Beckham (front left) in the Royal Box, both in matching cream suits.]
[Image 2: Beckham’s plaster cast visible as he waves to the crowd.]
[Image 3: Side-by-side comparison of Beckham and Broad’s outfits.]
The encounter turned awkward when Beckham extended his injured hand. “I was like, How firm a handshake do I do here?” Broad admitted. “It ended up being a tappy handshake—a little awkward!”
Beckham was accompanied by his mother, Sandra, while Broad sat with fiancée Mollie King. Other notable attendees included ex-England manager Gareth Southgate and actor Eddie Redmayne.
Meanwhile, Broad balanced his Wimbledon appearance with commentary duties for England’s second Test against India. England, leading 1-0 after a record chase of 371 runs, aimed to secure the series. Ben Stokes’ dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and the arrival of Rishabh Pant added drama to the match.
[Image 4: Broad and Hussain laughing during commentary.]
[Image 5: Beckham arriving at Wimbledon fresh from his Atlanta flight.]
Injury Backstory
Beckham’s wrist issue traces back to a 2003 injury while playing for England. The recent surgery addressed lingering pain, with wife Victoria sharing a supportive post-op photo. His determination to attend Wimbledon highlighted his passion for the event.
Cricket Focus
England’s strong start at Edgbaston saw early wickets, but India fought back. A win here would edge England closer to retaining the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ahead of the Ashes tour later this year.
The lighthearted clash of sporting legends and their sartorial synchronicity provided a memorable Wimbledon moment, blending elite sport with off-field camaraderie.
Broad and Beckham: Two icons, one outfit, and a handshake mishap for the ages.
