5 hours ago
1
Stuart Broad has added a twist to the pre-Ashes war of words by claiming that Australia have their worst team since 2010 — and England their best — days after David Warner took a swipe at Ben Stokes' side.
Broad was part of the squad that won 3–1 down under 15 years ago – the last time England won a Test in Australia, since when they have lost 5–0, 4–0 and 4–0.
And while he believes the Australians remain favourites to retain the urn they have held since 2017-18, he says the balance of power is ‘very much a similar situation to 2010-11’.
‘It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia,’ he told the For the Love of Cricket podcast.
‘Australia have to be massive favourites. The question really is: which team’s under the most pressure? Well, Australia are under the most pressure because they’re expected to win.
Stuart Broad has added to the pre-Ashes war of words by claiming that Australia have their worst team in years heading into the series, while Ben Stokes' England have their best
Despite admitting Australia are 'massive favourites', he thinks pressure will be off Stokes' side
It comes days after ex-Australia batter David Warner confidently backed the hosts to win 3-1
‘But they’ve got question marks over their team and question marks over the captain.’
Broad added: ‘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 its the best English team since 2010.
‘So those things match up to the fact it’s going to be a brilliant Ashes series.’
Broad is not immune to winding up Australians. He enraged an entire nation when he refused to walk for an obvious edge at a crucial moment of the Trent Bridge Test in 2013, and claimed that the 2021-22 Ashes was a ‘void series’ because it took place during Covid.
The bowler also held a longstanding rivalry with former Australian opening batsman Warner during his career, having dismissed him an incredible 17 times in Test cricket. Across 51 innings, the left-hander only scored 424 runs against Broad at an average of just 24.94.
Broad shared his view of the two sides shortly after Warner confidently played up Australia's chances of winning the series — claiming it will be a whitewash in the hosts' favour if injury-hit captain Pat Cummins is available.
'If Cummo is not there, I think Australia win 3-1. If Cummo is there, it's 4-0. I think England will win the first Test if Cummo is not playing,' he said.
'The Australian way will prevail because we're playing for the Ashes and they're playing for a moral victory. I had the fortunate privilege to share a change room with Stokes when he was younger, and he has evolved into a serious cricketer and a fantastic leader.
Broad held a long-term rivalry with Warner during his career, dismissing him 17 times in Tests
Warner thinks Australia will win 4-0 against the visitors so long as Pat Cummins is passed fit
'I think if we can not sort of poke that bear and get him up and about, I think that will help the Australians enormously.'
Despite Warner's confidence, Broad has questioned Australia's set-up with just over a month to go before the first Test gets under way in Perth.
‘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,' Broad added.
‘The fact of the matter is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia and England have to be very good. England have a great chance of being very good and Australia have a decent chance of being bad.
‘I don’t think anyone could argue that it’s their weakest team since 2010. It’s just a fact.’
