Stuart Broad has thrown his support behind England’s decision to arrive in Australia with a short preparation period ahead of next week’s first Ashes Test in Perth – and he hasn’t backed away from his recent claim that this is “the worst Australian team since 2010”.
England’s only red-ball hitout before the five-Test series begins on November 21 will be a three-day game against the England Lions, a reserve squad, at Lilac Hill.
While the plan has been criticised by former captains including Michael Vaughan and Ian Botham as “risky” and “bordering on arrogant”, Broad believes the move makes sense in the modern schedule.
Speaking on SEN’s Whateley program, the retired fast bowler said he trusted the brains trust in charge of the England team.
“I trust Rob Key and Brendon McCullum,” Broad said. “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 New Zealand.”
Broad said that scheduling challenges meant arranging quality tour matches in Australia was no longer realistic.
“If they came to Australia 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 Test XI,” he said.
Stuart Broad celebrates his 600th Test wicket. (Photo by Gareth Copley – ECB/ECB via Getty Images)
“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, Jofra Archer could bowl all day; in this case, they can control what their players are doing.”
Broad said that while the limited preparation might concern traditionalists, he believed it would not hinder England’s start to the series.
‘Worst Aussie team since 2010’
The 167-Test veteran caused a stir last month when he described the current Australian side as the weakest since England’s last victorious tour in 2010-11. And though he concedes his words were taken slightly out of context, Broad stands by the sentiment.
“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 – particularly that top seven, 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 opening Test has been shifted from the Gabba to Perth Stadium, and Broad says that could prove a blessing for England.
“I believe that England have their best chance since 2010-11 but they have to start well in Perth,” he said. “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 noise.
“The Gabba has an amazing aura and England have some scars there. They’ll be delighted the first Test isn’t at the Gabba.”
Despite questioning Australia’s overall strength, Broad remains wary of the class that still sits at the heart of the home side.
Steve Smith. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“It’s never that vulnerable when you’ve got Steve Smith at four and Travis Head at five,” he said. “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.”
Broad said Stokes’ side could look to use short-pitched bowling to disrupt Smith and Head’s rhythm.
“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 fresh bowlers with energy, that could be the difference.”
Broad said he could not recall a time when Australia’s top order was under so much scrutiny.
“I’ve never seen this sort of debate about an Australian top three in my lifetime,” he said. “Marnus Labuschagne is their best number three, he’s a brilliant player and showing amazing form – particularly in Australia, he’s 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.”
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