The mind games for the upcoming Ashes series have officially begun, and it’s no surprise that Stuart Broad, England’s recently retired arch-nemesis of Australian cricket, is the one lighting the fuse. Responding directly to former Aussie batter David Warner’s bold 4-0 series prediction in favour of the home side, Broad fired back with a staggering assessment that the current team is the “worst” Australian team since England last tasted victory Down Under 15 years ago.
England’s record in Australia since their 2010-2011 triumph has been nothing short of brutal, marked by a succession of 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0 hidings. Yet, Broad, who retired with a dramatic flourish in the 2023 home series, sees a genuine turning point this winter.
Broad labels Aussie side ‘Weakest’ since 2010
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, the fast-bowling legend laid out his case, as he lashed out with an explosive claim about the opposition’s strength. Alongside Jos Buttler, Broad first played a clip of Warner, where he said that Australia would be playing to win the Ashes, while England would be eyeing just a moral victory.
“It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side – it just is,” Broad conceded, giving Australia the label of “massive favourites.” However, he quickly pivoted to where the pressure truly lies. “But they’ve got question marks over their team and question marks over [the fitness of] captain [Pat Cummins].”
This focus on the cracks in the Australian armour led to his ultimate statement: “You wouldn’t be outlandish in thinking – it’s actually not an opinion, it’s a fact – it’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won, and it’s the best English team since 2010. So those things match up to the fact it’s going to be a brilliant Ashes series.“
Broad’s reasoning hinges on the perceived lack of stability and depth in the Australian squad, particularly in the bowling unit. Skipper Pat Cummins’ potential absence from the first Test in Perth, as he’s recovering from a lumbar bone stress injury and has stated he is “less likely than likely” to play, is a massive concern.
If Cummins misses out, Australia would field an attack relying on the mid-30s trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland, with inexperienced seamers waiting in the wings. Also, Australia don’t have a settled opening pair. Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Jack Weatherald are all hunting for a spot but without any surety.
“Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that you just knew who was going to open the batting, who was going to bat where, what bowlers there were – and they don’t have that,” he explained. “It’s very much a similar situation to 2010-2011 when England went and won there.“
“The fact of the matter is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia and England have to be very good. I don’t think anyone could argue that it’s their weakest team since 2010… it’s just a fact.“
The post ‘Worst in 15 years’: Stuart Broad replies to David Warner’s 4-0 Ashes claim appeared first on Inside Sport India.
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