He was one of cricket’s great agitators on the field, and retirement hasn’t tempered Stuart Broad ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes series.
Following cheeky pre-Ashes barbs from his former sparring partner David Warner, the legendary English fast bowler has delivered a blunt assessment of the current Australian test team on the For Love of Cricket podcast with the BBC.
“It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side or any side,” Broad told his co-host Jos Butler, before suggesting the weight of expectation could weigh the host nation down this summer.
“But Australia are under the most pressure because they’re expected to win, they’re brilliant at home.”
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“They’ve got question marks over their team,” Broad continued.
“You wouldn’t be outlandish in thinking it’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won—and it’s the best English team since 2010.”
‘Australia have a decent chance of being bad’ says Broad ahead of Ashes series
The 167-test veteran then pointed to the selection and injury uncertainty surrounding the Australian line-up heading into the first test in Perth next month.
“Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time, 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 said.
“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.
“England have a great chance of being very good and Australia have a decent chance of being bad.
“So those things match up to the fact it’s going to be a brilliant Ashes series.”
Broad, 39, retired after the 2023 Ashes series in England, having taken 604 wickets in 167 tests including 40 against Australia.