Stuart Broad claims England will face the “worst” Australia team since 2010 within the upcoming Ashes.
Broad has helped crank up the “confrontation” before the primary Test in Perth on November 21 in response to former Australia opener David Warner predicting a 4-0 victory for the hosts.
Broad told the BBC’s For the Love of Cricket podcast: “You wouldn’t be outlandish in pondering – 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 one of the best English team since 2010.
“So those things match as much as the actual fact it’s going to be a superb Ashes series.”
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(Mike Egerton/PA)
Pressure
Broad retired as a player after the 2023 Ashes series in England, when Australia kept hold of the urn after the series ended 2-2.
He was a member of the England squad once they last triumphed in Australia in 2010-2011, winning 3-1 under captain Andrew Strauss to retain the urn.
“It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side – it just is,” Broad said.
“Australia need to be massive favourites. The query really was ‘which team’s under essentially the most pressure?’
“Well, Australia are under essentially the most pressure because they’re expected to win. They’re sensible at home.
“But they’ve got query marks over their team and query marks over captain (Pat Cummins).”
Weakest
Cummins, sidelined since July resulting from lumbar bone stress in his back, has said he’s “less likely than likely” to play within the opening Test.
Broad added: “Australia have been so consistent for an extended time frame that you simply just knew who was going to open the batting, who was going to bat where, what bowlers there have been – they usually don’t have that.
“I don’t think anyone could argue that it’s their weakest team since 2010… it’s only a fact.”
READ MORE: Australia captain Pat Cummins says he’s unlikely to be fit for first Ashes Test
