Stuart Broad makes fiery jibe at current Australian Test side as he calls them the “worst” Australian Test side since 2010-11.
By claiming that Australia’s squad is the poorest they have fielded for an Ashes series in fifteen years, Stuart Broad has set the stage for a contentious summer.
Broad joined the chorus of English voices praising the tourists’ chances just six weeks before the first Test in Perth. Joe Root has stated that this is his best chance to win Down Under, while Zak Crawley has remarked that Bazball “winds” Australia up in the last two weeks.
According to former England captain Michael Atherton, Scott Boland is no longer a source of anxiety for the tourists, and Australia is sweating over Pat Cummins’ injury.
But given that Broad was Australia’s bitterest opponent for 15 years before retiring following the 2023 Ashes, his remarks will stand out the most among all the bluster emanating from England.
Australia has won 4-0 in 2017–18 and 2021–22, and swept England 5-0 in home series in 2006–07 and 2013–14 over the past 20 years.
The sole loss on that home record in the last 20 years occurred during the 2010–11 summer, when the Australian team was going through a transition and they were defeated 3–1.
After participating in the 2010–11 series and England’s three subsequent series losses in Australia, Broad said the current Australian team seemed to be in a similar situation.
“It’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won, and it’s the best English team since 2010,” Broad, who is now working as a pundit, said on his BBC Podcast For The Love of Cricket hosted with Jos Buttler.
“It’s actually not an opinion, it’s fact. So those things match up to the fact it’s going to be a brilliant Ashes series.”
David Warner’s assertion that Australia will win 4-0 because they were playing for the Ashes and England was “playing for a moral victory” prompted Broad’s remarks.
“When we have ever, since 2010, been discussing who is going to bat No.1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and who is going to be the spare bowler for Australia,” Broad said. “You’re always go in there going: ‘well,the Aussies, they’re really strong. They’ve just got the same bowlers, the same team’.
“But in 2010, when they were trying to replace [Glenn] McGrath, [Shane] Warne, [Matthew] Hayden, [Justin] Langer, they didn’t have a spinner. They changed the seamers all the time, and they had a bit of a mixed match of batters.
“So I don’t think anyone could argue that it’s their weakest team since 2010.”