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Broad doubles down on "worst team" sledge as Ashes war explodes
Emily Benammar • November 12th, 2025 11:04 am
The prospect of arriving in Australia for the Ashes has not put England legend Stuart Broad off doubling down on his claim that this is the “worst Aussie team since 2010”.
Broad, who will spend the summer of cricket providing expert commentary on SEN’s coverage of the five Ashes Tests, added his voice to the traditional pre-series war of the words last month with the almighty sledge.
And while he believes some may have taken the comment a little out of context, speaking to SEN’s Gerard Whateley, the 39-year-old elaborated on it.
“I said a comment and I still believe that this Australian team is the worst since England won in 2010-11,” he said.
“A bit of that was taken out of context; I was talking specifically about Ashes cricket and England touring Australia.
“This I think is the first time in a long time Australia have got question marks on their team. They’ve named a big squad while England seem settled in the battling unit – particularly that top 7, you know what’s coming.
“There’s more question marks over Australia for this series than for many a year because the Aussies might not be as good as they have been and England might be better than they have been.”
The first Test gets underway in Perth next week – a blessing according to Broad who is no stranger to the hostile reception England players face when arriving to play Down Under.
Organisers shifted the opening Test away from its traditional Gabba location, which will is a God send for the visitors.
OPENING CLASH AND ENGLAND HOPES
“I believe that England have their best chance since 2010-11 but they have to start well in Perth.
“We don’t know what the pitch will be, I don’t think they’ve played a Test at this stadium.
“The one percent is that England are not starting at the Gabba. I’m delighted to be honest. As an England player when you arrive there, you’re walking into the Aussie backyard.
“I remember so well, I was facing a hat-trick ball from Siddle, I was sure the crowd were shouting “kill kill kill”. I’m sure they weren’t but all I could think about was the crowd.
“The Gabba has an amazing aura and England have some scars there. They will be delighted the first Test isn’t at the Gabba, they will be thrilled.”
SHORT WARM-UPS
“I trust Rob Key and Brendon McCullum. England have started series incredibly well in recent times.
“They have won the first Test with good consistency lately and with little preparation.
“Times have changed. I understand ex-players saying it’s not enough preparation but the time frame of fitting things in is difficult. England just had an ODI series in NZ.
“If they came to Aus and wanted a competitive match here there’s Sheffield Shield this week, so you’re not dragging players out of that to play England when they’re playing for their spot in the XI.
“The time frame of being able to get quality hard cricket in Australia is difficult, so England have taken it into their own hands and flown Lions players out to play against them.
“Those young players are giving it everything to impress, England can control this too.
“If you play a state game Archer could bowl all day, in this case they can control what their players are doing.”
ARE AUSTRALIA VULNERABLE?
“It’s never that vulnerable when you’ve got Steve Smith four and Head five. Smith is the hardest batter in the world to bowl at, so unique, so different, doesn’t give you a chance.
“For England to win this series Smith will need to average less than 40, I don’t know how but somehow. I’ve sat in hours of bowling meetings on how to get him out, but no one ever really comes up with a plan.
“I wonder if England will use short pitch bowling with the extra pace – Stokes loves going to that option, it shuts players down. In Australia it could be a decent play.
“The whole of England’s success with the ball relies on what they can do with the new ball – if they can take early wickets and expose those guys to new ball bowlers that could be the difference.
“Expose Smith and head to fresh bowlers with energy with a new ball, then England could do well.
“If Khawaja and whoever opens can get off to decent starts then Smith and Head will be tough to remove
“I’ve never seen this sort of debate about an Australian top three in my lifetime. Marnus Labuschagne is their best number three, he’s a brilliant player and showing amazing form, particularly in Australia he is hard to bowl at.
“Webster probably deserves to play through performance, but Green is one of the favourite players and probably wants to play on potential. England will want Green at three not Labuschagne.”
