Former England pacer Stuart Broad has stuck by his comments that the current Australian team is the ‘worst’ in the last 15 years, despite seeing them winning the 2025-26 Ashes 3-0 within 11 full days of cricket. Broad said he doesn’t regret that opinion, blaming Ben Stokes’ men for not living up to the expectations instead.
Broad made the comment hours before the first Test in Perth. It was based on valid concerns about Australia’s balance and the injury clouds over captain Pat Cummins, who did miss the first two games, alongside Josh Hazlewood, who has been ruled out of the series, and Steven Smith, who was out of the third Test.
He also labeled the visitors as the best England team since 2010-11, when England last won the Ashes down under. But
while none of the teams in between even came close to winning the Ashes, Stokes’ team wasn’t much different, playing with a one-mindedness that was counter-productive to their genuine, natural talent.
“Do I regret saying that? No,” Broad said on his For The Love of Cricket podcast. “I did say Australia would have to play very badly and England would have to play very well. Australia haven’t played very badly and England haven’t played very well.”
“From England’s point of view, what would they have liked coming into this series?” he said. “A lot of things have gone England’s way. But England haven’t been good enough ultimately. Australia have been relentless in what they’ve done.”
“Do I think the 2013-14 [Australian team] man for man was a better side? Yes, probably still. I don’t think individually they are better than any other team since 2010-11, but they’ve been relentless in the pressure they’ve managed to put on England.”
England have had their troubles with injuries, too, but they have simply underperformed in almost all games. Worse, their off-field attitude has been heavily criticised in England, especially their pre-planned holiday between the second and third Tests, where most players reportedly completely avoided even fitness training, instead choosing to indulge in partying and drinking.
