Broad admits having 'ball-hitting face' nightmare post Aaron's menacing bouncer

England paceman Stuart Broad has claimed that he has had times when he felt the ball just about to hit his face in the middle of the night, after he got his nose broken by a bouncer from India's Varun Aaron last year.

Just three months prior to Phillip Hughes' passing in Sydney after being struck by a bouncer in a domestic game, the English bowler was struck in the face while attempting to pull Aaron in a Test match.

Broad claims that he's felt fine at the crease since returning to play but still has visions of the ball hitting his face while he's sleeping, News.com.au reported.

Broad said that he felt fine going out to bat; nervous but fine, but added that having four months off he has had nightmares about it. He claimed that he has had times when he has felt the ball just about to hit his face in the middle of the night, insisting that it has been quite tough.

The paceman insisted that he is working with the sports psychologist to try and focus the mind on other things, adding that after his operation, he doesn't know if the drugs had anything to do with it, but claimed that he would wake up feeling like a ball had hit him in the face, which is a bit strange.