Tag: Stuart Broad

Former Australia pacer Ryan Harris has responded to England’s Stuart Broad’s remarks about the Australian team ahead of the Ashes 2025.

Last month, Broad hailed the current England side as the best since their win on Australian soil in the 2010/11 Ashes and rated the present Australian side as the weakest.

“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,” he had said.

Harris dismissed the notion that the current Australian side is the weakest and stated that the pacers’ remarks are exaggerated to generate media hype.

“No way. He has got to be joking if he thinks this is the worst Australian side since those Ashes,” he told Reuters. “Obviously, he’s in the media, so he’s drumming up the hype.”

“We had some pretty good players, but they were just better. England were unreal, relentless with the bat and the ball,” he continued.

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He mentioned England’s top order and their vulnerability, particularly Joe Root, who has yet to score a Test century in Australia.

“Their batting is unproven. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett on our wickets. Joe Root’s been a number of times and hasn’t scored a hundred, has he?” said Harris.

“So there’s a lot of unproven stuff there. Broad is obviously drumming up interest, but you can’t just sit there and say they’re the best team since whenever, because they haven’t been out here and played – and the ones that have, haven’t (won).”

He revealed that in the past, they had successfully put England’s captain under pressure, which had worked for them, and added that this time, Australia would have to ensure that they do the same against Ben Stokes.

“We’ve got to make sure we put Stokes under pressure. One thing that we’ve done successfully in the past is put the England captain under pressure. We did that with Alastair Cook, not allowing him to dictate how he wants to play and get them off to a good start.

“It will be similar with Stokes if we can contain him with the ball,” Harris concluded.

The first match of the Ashes series will commence on November 21 at Perth Stadium.

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Former England pacer Stuart Broad has hit back at ex-Australia opener David Warner, who took a cheeky dig at Three Lions ace batter Joe Root ahead of the Ashes 2025.

Warner, who is set to feature in The Hundred, shared his views on Joe Root during a recent show with the BBC Sports.

“The big anchor there is Rooty, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia,” Warner said.

“Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg,” he added.

Bowlers To Dismiss Joe Root Most Times in Tests

11 – Pat Cummins (AUS)

11 – Jasprit Bumrah (IND)

10 – Josh Hazlewood (AUS)

9 – Ravindra Jadeja (IND)

England’s ace batter Joe Root has notched up 15 Test centuries since the start of 2022 at a stellar average of 64.64; however, the right-hander has struggled in Australia, scoring only 892 runs at a modest average of 35.68 according to his standards.

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Interestingly, Joe Root, who has 37 Test centuries to his name, is yet to score a ton in Australia, having played 15 matches so far.

Now, Stuart Broad has replied to Warner’s comments, specifically addressing the reference to ‘surfboard’.

“I’ve never heard England’s best ever batters front pad called a surfboard,” Broad tweeted. Just for clarity. Hazlewood has got Rooty LBW in Test cricket three times. Three,” Broad remarked on his X handle.

Most LBW dismissals in Tests since 2013

51 – Joe Root (ENG)

36 – Virat Kohli (IND)

33 – Steve Smith (AUS)

31 – Kraigg Brathwaite (WI)

30 – Jonny Bairstow (ENG)

Joe Root has been dismissed LBW the most (51) times since the start of 2013, accounting for 19.39 percent of his wickets. Notably, the recently retired Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, who will be featuring in the Ashes 2025, are in second and third spots, respectively.

Most LBW dismissals in Tests since 2013

51 – Joe Root (ENG)

36 – Virat Kohli (IND)

33 – Steve Smith (AUS)

31 – Kraigg Brathwaite (WI)

30 – Jonny Bairstow (ENG)

For the unversed, the Ashes 2025 will commence on 21 November at the Perth Cricket Stadium in Australia, with the home team currently holding the trophy after retaining it in 2023 with a 2-2 draw against England.

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Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad believes Jofra Archer should be rested for the fifth and final Test against India, starting July 31 at The Oval, and has backed Gus Atkinson to take his place.

Archer made a highly anticipated return to Test cricket earlier this series after a four-year absence caused by recurring elbow and back injuries.

The speedster marked his comeback in style during the third Test at Lord’s, taking match figures of 5-105 and playing a key role in England’s dramatic win.

His spell included early damage with the new ball and crucial wickets in the second innings, notably Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Washington Sundar.

Determined to help England clinch the series, Jofra Archer pushed through for the fourth Test in Manchester, claiming four wickets for 151 runs.

However, he looked visibly uncomfortable, especially during India’s mammoth second innings where they batted out a draw at 425/4.

With Archer clearly struggling physically, Stuart Broad has urged the team management to avoid risking a long-term injury.

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“We can’t not have Jofra Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years,” Broad said.

Broad has called for Gus Atkinson to be given a shot, noting that the young quick hasn’t yet been tested against a top-quality Test opponent.

“I think Gus Atkinson has to play. I know he has not had any workload, but we need to see him. He hasn’t been really challenged against top-level opposition in Test cricket yet,” he said.

Broad also pointed out that Brydon Carse looked “knackered” during the fourth Test and could use a breather, while Josh Tongue, who featured earlier in the series, could be a like-for-like replacement if England opt to rest Jofra Archer.

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Former England cricketer Stuart Broad has warned the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) against appointing all-rounder Ben Stokes as captain for the One Day International (ODI) format.

The debate began after Jos Butler’s resignation as England’s White ball captain following their dismal campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The three lions remained winless in the tournament, registering defeats against England, South Africa and Afghanistan.

Following the marquee event debacle, ECB managing director Rob Key named Ben Stokes as the notable candidate for a leadership role in ODIs.

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“Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I’ve ever seen, so it would be stupid not to look at him. It’s just the knock-on effect of what that means,” Key stated.

“You look at every single option and think: What is the best thing to do? How is that going to impact other things?” he added.

In light of this statement, Stuart Broad has downplayed the idea of making Stokes the skipper of the ODI side, terming it a “decision of desperation.”

“I would be lost for words if England appointed him,” Broad stated.

The pacer highlighted Ben Stokes’s workload management and commitment to Test cricket in taking on this role.

“Firstly, there’s the schedule. He’s skipping the IPL to focus on Test cricket and manage his body for major assignments ahead. How many overs has Stokes successfully bowled in the last three years while battling knee injuries? Not many.”

“And now you’re going to add the workload of bowling eight to ten overs per match in the 50-over format? The mathematics of that make no sense,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that the England team will host India for a five-match Test series and will also play the Ashes series later in the year.

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Former pacer Stuart Broad on Tuesday, shared that he wants England to play “fast-paced cricket” amid their three-match away Test against Pakistan.

Broad, while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of Inside Lord’s, a Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) new digital platform, asserted that England have the players who can counter the spin-threat in Pakistan but insisted Ben Stokes-led side to continue with their brand of cricket.

“I think the style will work in Pakistan, for sure,” Broad said.

“I think they’re really positive and aggressive, they can find the boundary and don’t get tied down by spin.

“England will have to play fast-paced cricket to force results over there because you generally do need five days to make something happen.”

Stuart Broad also commented on Pakistan’s recent struggles at home, the highlight of which was their 2-0 Test series defeat against Bangladesh but remained cautious that the home side may exploit England’s inexperienced fast-bowling unit.

“Pakistan have not been playing the best cricket. They’ve been struggling, so England should see that as a positive and go there trying to apply pressure to that team as soon as they possibly can,” Stuart Broad said.

“But we always know Pakistan, they’ve got world-class talent and players that can win a game on their own. It won’t be an easy challenge.

“The surfaces (in Pakistan) were a bit slower and turned, but in their recent series they’ve had a bit of green grass on and carried through a bit more.

“I don’t know which way Pakistan will lean on their pitches – they might leave a bit of grass on, seeing an inexperienced bowling group from England.”

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The three-match series between Pakistan and England will run from October 7 to 28 and is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

It’s worth noting that the second Test, which was originally planned at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from 15-19 October, will now be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The match has been shifted as the National Bank Stadium is undergoing a major facelift for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The remaining two Tests will be played as originally planned, i.e. 7-11 October in Multan and 24-28 October in Rawalpindi.

Squads:

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

England: Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

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Former England pacer Stuart Broad has praised his long-time bowling partner James Anderson as “an addict of the art of bowling” as the veteran fast bowler prepares for his final Test against West Indies.

Anderson, 42 later this month, will face the West Indies in a series opener at Lord’s starting on Wednesday before ending an England career which has so far yielded 700 wickets in 187 Tests — both records among quick bowlers.

Broad, who played alongside James Anderson in 138 of those games before retiring from Test cricket after last year’s Ashes, said his longstanding new-ball partner’s excellence was down to a sheer love of bowling.

“He loves the rhythm of running into bowl, the control of the technique of his action, the tactical side of whether he’s bowling away swing, inswing, wobble seam,” Broad wrote in the Sunday Times.

“When you talk about professionals who have had longevity, you often talk about their dedication to training, their discipline in the gym and their diet.”

The 38-year-old Broad, who himself took 604 wickets in 167 Tests, added: “And of course, you don’t play to 42 unless you have that but the thing that makes him different is his genuine love of the art of what he does.

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“Addict is generally used as a negative word but I’d say he is an addict of the art of bowling.”

Anderson’s reputation was based on his ability as an outstanding conventional swing bowler, particularly in home conditions, but Broad said this ignored his skill in deploying reverse swing.

“He doesn’t get enough credit for his reverse swing, which has been crucial to his great record in the subcontinent,” Stuart Broad wrote. “Because his line and length are so immaculate it makes it lethal.

“(South Africa fast bowler) Dale Steyn was phenomenal and quicker than Jimmy but Jimmy is certainly the best reverse-swing bowler I’ve played with and probably the best I’ve witnessed in the flesh outside of Steyn.

“(His) ability to adapt and learn is why he has been so successful for so long. In professional sports, you have to be continually improving because there is always a younger bowler trying to get your shirt.

“It is that genuine love for the art of bowling that has made him want to improve and learn new deliveries. It’s why he will go out at Lord’s this week as England’s greatest-ever bowler.”

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Former England pacer Stuart Broad was named in the star-studded commentary panel for the upcoming four-match T20I series between Pakistan and England, scheduled to commence on May 22.

Besides Broad, the commentary panel features former England cricketers including Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Isa Guha, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Mark Butcher, Eoin Morgan and Lydia Greenway.

For the unversed, Stuart Broad bid farewell to international cricket in August last year after the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

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Since then, the former pacer has been a frequent member of the Sky Sports commentary panel and also served as an analyst in last year’s SA20.

Besides the T20I series between Pakistan and England, Stuart Broad will also commentate when his former teammate James Anderson plays his final Test against West Indies at The Lord’s in June.

The four-match T20I series will serve as a warm-up for last edition’s finalists Pakistan and England for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies.

Pakistan squad:

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan.

England squad:

Jos Buttler (c), Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Hartley, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Reece Topley.

Pak vs Eng T20I series schedule:

1st T20I: Wed, May 22nd
2nd T20I: Sat, May 25th
3rd T20I: Tue, May 28th
4th T20I: Thu, May 30th

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Former England captain Marcus Trescothick and legendary pacer Stuart Broad were among the sports figures recognised in the New Year Honours, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Friday.

Broad, 37, who retired from cricket this summer with 604 Test wickets to his name, was awarded the highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award – Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

It rounds off a remarkable year for Broad, who left his playing career on a high with the final wicket in England Men’s fifth Test victory in the LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes, and earned himself second place in BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Trescothick, 48 – currently Lead Batting Coach for England Men but previously one of England Men’s most successful opening batters – is awarded the second highest ranking Order of the British Empire award Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work as an ambassador for mental health.

Both Stuart Broad and Marcus Trescothick are seeing their current honours upgraded. Trescothick was awarded an MBE in 2005 after England Men historically regained the Ashes, and Broad initially received an MBE in 2017.

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Chair of the ECB, Richard Thompson, said: “As a whole game we’re absolutely delighted to see Stuart and Marcus honoured in this way.

“They have been fantastic ambassadors for cricket for many years, and they have played a major role in helping build the profile of our game and in turn bringing more people into our sport.

“Stuart has long been an inspirational figure and will be remembered as a true great of English cricket, and the spectacular nature of his retirement this summer was the perfect farewell.

“It’s also so fitting that Marcus has now been recognised both for his achievements on the field and for his bravery in talking so honestly about his own mental health challenges which has helped so many people.

“I would also like to pay tribute to all those hard-working people who have been honoured for their work in cricket. I am delighted to be able to share with them my warmest congratulations, on behalf of everyone in our game.”

Robin Varley, Patricia Gaywood, Duncan Holden and Robert Nellies also received honours for their service to cricket.

Stuart Broad CBE said: “All I ever wanted to do was play cricket, and to have had the career that I was able to enjoy and to receive honours like this is incredibly special. I’m very proud that my contributions to cricket have been recognised, and it means a lot to me and my family.

Marcus Trescothick OBE said: “It’s a huge honour to have been awarded an OBE. I was delighted in 2005 when we were recognised as a team with MBEs but this is very special. I’ve always wanted to let people know my story and to try and raise awareness to help anyone who may be struggling with poor mental health alongside the Professional Cricketers’ Association, so recognition of that work means a lot.”

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India’s wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik spoke highly of Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf and termed him one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world currently.

The cricketer-turned-commentator, in an interview with Sky Sports, praised Rauf and called his journey from playing tennis ball cricket to doing well in the international beautiful.

“Haris Rauf is one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world, especially in end overs — his story is beautiful with playing tennis ball cricket a few years back and getting picked by [Lahore] Qalandars, then doing so well in International cricket,” said Dinesh Karthik.

Earlier, recently retired England pace bowler Stuart Broad showered praise on Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s bowling action and termed him one of his favourite bowlers.

Talking to Sky Sports, Broad said, “Shaheen Shah Afridi is one of my favourite bowlers to watch in the world. He’s got such a presence about him when he runs in, and I love to see bowlers run in with energy and vibrancy to their run up.”

He further praised Shaheen for his impressive bowling skills, “He’s got such a natural skill — the way that ball swings back into the right-handers is such a pleasure to watch,”

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who represented Stuart Broad’s home county side, Notts Outlaws in this year’s T20 Blast, made his presence felt with his all-round abilities.

The left-arm pacer picked up 21 wickets in 13 matches during his T20 Blast stint. He also made notable contributions with the bat for the Outlaws, whose journey ended after a five-wicket defeat against eventual champions Somerset in the quarter-final.

“And he represented the Notts Outlaws this summer, which is close to my heart. He’s one of the bowlers I admire hugely, and I want to see him do well,” Broad added.

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Recently retired England pace bowler Stuart Broad showered praise on Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s bowling action and termed him one of his favourite bowlers.

Talking to Sky Sports, Broad said, “Shaheen Shah Afridi is one of my favourite bowlers to watch in the world. He’s got such a presence about him when he runs in, and I love to see bowlers run in with energy and vibrancy to their run up.”

He further praised Shaheen for his impressive bowling skills, “He’s got such a natural skill — the way that ball swings back into the right-handers is such a pleasure to watch,”

Stuart Broad recently retired from international cricket at the end of Ashes 2023, with 604 wickets in 167 test matches.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who represented Stuart Broad’s home county side, Notts Outlaws in this year’s T20 Blast, made his presence felt with his all-round abilities.

The left-arm pacer picked up 21 wickets in 13 matches during his T20 Blast stint. He also made notable contributions with the bat for the Outlaws, whose journey ended after a five-wicket defeat against eventual champions Somerset in the quarter-final.

“And he represented the Notts Outlaws this summer, which is close to my heart. He’s one of the bowlers I admire hugely, and I want to see him do well,” Broad added.

Shaheen Afridi is playing for Welsh Fire in the ongoing The Hundred and has set the league on fire with his fiery pace bowling. He picked three wickets in two games. Shaheen’s team will face Oval Invincibles tomorrow.

The Hundred started on August 1, and the final is set to take place on August 27 at Lord’s. Trent Rockets are defending champions, having won the final in 2022 by defeating Manchester Originals by two wickets.

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