Stuart Broad has fired a stinging blow at the Aussies just weeks out from the Ashes, claiming the 2021/22 series is “void” given the Covid restrictions at the time.
Australia wiped England 4-0 to retain the urn in Pat Cummins’ first series as captain at a time when Australians were heavily impacted by the presence of Covid.
Cummins and Travis Head both missed Tests as a result, while the teams’ ability to socialize was limited.
Broad says that as a result, the series doesn’t count in his eyes.
“Nothing was harsher than the last Ashes series,” Broad told Daily Mail.
“But in my mind I don't class that as a real Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game. Nothing about that series was high level performance because of the Covid restrictions. The training facilities, the travel, not being able to socialise. I've written it off as a void series.”
The now 36-year-old was only selected for three Tests of that series, finishing with 13 wickets.
With England currently on a tear of revolutionizing Test cricket under coach Brendon McCullum, Broad holds extra excitement for the upcoming series.
“I think I'm even more excited than in my first Ashes,” he added.
“In 2009 I was apprehensive and very nervous. It was all very tiring because I was into it so much but I'm chilled now. I love it. I'm addicted to it and I'm addicted to the way we're playing.”
However, a former England star isn’t convinced Broad will be lining up on June 16 for the first Test in Edgbaston.
Despite playing the last two Tests, Broad could be left out in favour of Ollie Robinson, says Steve Harmison.
“I’m not too sure Broad will pLay in the first Test match,” he told SEN’s Road to the Ashes.
“I think it will be (Jimmy) Anderson and Robinson that plays in the first Test match.
“That might do David Warner a bit of a favor because Robinson is not as comfortable bowling around the wicket as Broad is to left handers.
“Whether that comes into the factor from an England selection point of view. I think whatever happens, Ollie Robinson plays in that first Test match, and if he does, barring injuries, it’ll be Anderson and Robinson, not Anderson and Broad.”
29-year-old Robinson holds an extraordinary bowling average of 18.22 from seven Tests in English conditions.
Jofra Archer is also set to play as a front-line quick, if he recovers from elbow surgery, after terrorizing the Australian batters during their last trip to England. Mark Wood will also be available.
But with five Tests across six weeks, Broad is expected to feature throughout the series.
The 2023 Ashes series is arguably the most anticipated in almost two decades, with both Australia and England seemingly at the peaks of the powers.
With the two sides playing contrasting styles, Broad hopes the Aussies falter in their game plan.
“It's going to be a slight clash of styles and I'm fascinated to see how their bowling attack will defend against us,” Broad told the publication.
“And it will be interesting to see how their batters stay calm because we play so aggressively now. Will they be able stick to their game plans and bubbles when we're playing this style? That will be a test for them.
“I think it would be great for us if Australia try to take us on at our own game. If we can get them playing in a slightly different style they could make mistakes and that would be brilliant for us. Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are all guys who like to bat time and accumulate so if we can nibble away at them and just get them thinking 'why are we not scoring quicker? Why are we not moving the game forward?
“We leave Jack Leach's mid-on and mid-off in all the time and Stokesey basically says 'you're not having them back. Let them keep hitting you'. And he's probably got more caught mid-offs now than lbws so it's playing on minds. I'd love Smith to dance down the track and sky one to mid-off early doors. That would be classic.”
Listen to the premiere episode of Road to the Ashes with Simon O'Donnell and Steve Harmison below