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Mitchell Starc has slammed Stuart Broad’s bizarre claim that the last Ashes series didn’t count because England’s tour was marred by COVID security restrictions.
The veteran England seamer has been indulging in all sorts of mind games in the lead-up to the Ashes, including his claim that the 4-0 win to Australia last time they met was “a void series” but it received short shrift from Starc.
He told The Sydney Morning Herald that Broad’s claims didn’t hold much water, likening the England team’s set-up to a luxury holiday.
And off-spinner Nathan Lyon backed up his left-arm quick by telling The Today Show that he thought that Broad’s assessment of the previous series was “absolute rubbish”.
“The funniest thing out of that was they called it quarantine on the Gold Coast,” Starc told the SMH. “I did seven of them. That was the easiest by a country mile.
“The Poms had the pool, the gym, they were in a resort on the Gold Coast, they trained at Metricon Stadium, weren’t confined to their rooms and had their families there.
“Was that really quarantine? They were still allowed to play golf on tour. Is that an excuse for 4-0? Dunno. It was a pretty good series to be a part of.”
When asked about Broad’s jab, Lyon added: “Absolute rubbish, to be honest with you. I know I’m claiming it as definitely a 4-0 victory to Australia/
“We should be really grateful and humble about what we were able to do, able to go out there and play sport even though it was in COVID times. They were still out here in Australia, which is probably the best country in the world, especially around summer time.
“It was pretty poor by Stuart but he’s probably just trying to get under our skin. We’ve got thick skin.”
Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates dismissing Rory Burns with the first ball of the 2021-22 Ashes. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Lyon attracted headlines for saying he thought Australia would win 5-0 last week but he reiterated he was simply saying he went into every match expecting to win, like every other professional athlete.
Broad is gearing up to “go to battle” with long-time adversary David Warner in this summer’s Ashes, lavishing praise on his batting bunny, almost to the extent that he’s trying to ensure the opener is picked in the Australian team.
Perhaps another case of mind games from the mischievous seamer?
Broad and Warner have faced off against each in 26 Tests dating back to 2013, with the Englishman dismissing the Australian 14 times – more than any other bowler on the planet.
Exactly half of those wickets came in the 2019 Ashes, when Broad swarmed the left-hander and removed him seven times in 10 innings as he averaged a miserable 9.5.
Broad also had the last laugh in their most recent head-to-head, condemning Warner to a duck in Hobart in a game that ended with both men pondering the end of their shared story.
They discussed the possibility over a post-series drink at the Bellerive Oval, but 18 months on they are set to slug it out again in the first Test at Edgbaston on June 16.
“I’m obviously looking forward to going to battle with Davey again. We’ve had incredible battles,” said Broad.
“I’m really looking forward to stepping on the field against him. I must admit, at the end of Hobart last time, we shared a glass of red and didn’t know if we would play against each other again. Hopefully we can.
“He had the better of me for quite a long period, got a hundred at Brisbane and at the WACA (in 2013) and, ultimately, the biggest praise I can give Davey is the fact I had to completely study him and change my style of bowling because of the success he had against me.
“He’s been a great competitor, someone I’ve really enjoyed playing against. He’s fiery, ferociously competitive, and those sorts of characters bring out the best in me as well.
“I bowled particularly well against him [in 2019 when Warner averaged 9.5 with Broad dismissing him seven times in 10 innings] in conditions that suited me but that will be very different this year. The 2019 wickets were tired from the World Cup. They were dry, so the new ball seamed off the dryness. It was not so much swing, but wobble-seam.
“[Justin] Langer made a couple of comments after the 2019 Ashes that he felt Davey had got to the stage in his netting that he was almost too focused on my style of bowling I think. But he’s coming off IPL [Indian Premier League] cricket, a very different format, and having played that for a long time, and just got a double hundred on Boxing Day against a fantastic South African bowling attack, he’s going to have confidence.
Broad doesn’t expect Australia to try Bazball’s up-tempo style which has served England so well for 10 wins from their past 12 Tests.
“Why would they do it with the success they have had over the last few years?” he said. “They have a team that has played a lot and is very embedded in their individuals.”
Broad readily admits the thrill of tussling with the best players the world has to offer is a habit he cannot kick, even after 161 caps and nearly 14 years at the highest level.
He accepts he is into the final chapter of his career, but while recent injury scares mean James Anderson and Ollie Robinson are both likely to be wrapped in cotton wool for next week’s Test against Ireland, Broad has made it clear he wants to lead the attack and has been invigorated by the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
(Photo by Getty Images)
“What do they call it, the twilight? It’s sort of the arse-end of your career, isn’t it? But I’ve still got a great hunger,” he said.
“Ultimately I play sport and cricket for the competitive side. I love that competitive drive that bowling at a batter gives you. You beat the outside edge and there’s no win in that, but then you nip one back and it goes through the gate. Those sort of feelings are so addictive to me.
“The addiction to being in this changing room is quite strong. Credit to Rob Key (director of cricket), Baz McCullum and Stokesy – they’ve made everything about playing for England 10 out of 10. I am 36 turning 37, I have always said if my competitive burn goes then I won’t be the cricketer I am, but my competitive burn is alive.”
England can breathe a sigh of relief after Ollie Robinson’s scan on his left ankle showed no damage, meaning he will link up with the Test squad as planned this weekend.
Robinson was withdrawn from Sussex’s bowling attack before lunch on day three of their County Championship draw against Glamorgan after suffering from soreness at the base of his leg.
He was seen on Sunday on crutches and wearing a protective boot, heightening fears he would become the latest injury concern ahead of next week’s one-off Test against Ireland and then the Ashes.
But an England and Wales Cricket Board statement said: “Scan results have revealed no damage to the ankle and that Robinson will join up with the England Men’s Test squad this weekend ahead of the Test match against Ireland starting on Thursday 1 June at Lord’s.
Paul Farbrace, Sussex head coach and Robinson’s stepfather, attempted to downplay the seriousness of the injury on Saturday, adding the fast bowler was feeling more pain from walking rather than running.
Despite Robinson being given the all-clear, England are still likely to act with caution over a player who is almost certainly a first-choice for this summer’s program with 66 wickets at an average of 21.27 in 16 Tests.
England can ill-afford another setback to one of their pace options, with Jofra Archer already out for the summer because of a recurrence of a stress fracture in his right elbow.
Ollie Robinson (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Olly Stone is sidelined with a hamstring problem and looks set to miss at least the start of the Ashes and Jamie Overton is in the initial stages of his recovery from a stress fracture to the spine.
James Anderson is focused on being available for the Ashes opener at Edgbaston which starts on June 16, so England’s record wicket-taker may skip the Ireland Test, beginning on June 1, due to a minor groin strain.
Concerns also persist over Ben Stokes’ ability to perform as an all-rounder because of a longstanding knee injury.
He played just twice for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and will miss the play-offs after flying home at the weekend to be ready for the Lord’s Test against Ireland.
Fittingly, the bowling average of Shane Warne in Ashes contests – it was also the spin king’s ODI playing number. He tormented England for 14 years from 1993 onwards to bag 195 scalps, including a best of 8-71 and the famous Ball of the Century in his Ashes debut which skittled Mike Gatting.
On This Day …
May 24 – One of the most controversial selections in Ashes history, Martin McCague was born in Ulster in 1969. Raised in Australia, he switched his allegiances to England and was the subject of intense scrutiny when he made his debut in the 1993 Ashes. He took four wickets in his first bowling innings but just two more in three career Tests, all against Australia.
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