Published on: Oct 15, 2025 5:16 pm IST|Updated on: Oct 15, 2025 5:16 pm IST
Former England pacer, Stuart Broad, has joined the noise ahead of the Ashes Test series 2025-26 in Australia. The former right-arm pacer has openly said that the current Australian Test squad is the weakest since 2010-11.
Speaking ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes series, Broad declared,
“This is the worst Australian team since 2010-11.”
His comments come nearly six weeks before the first Test in Perth, adding fuel to the growing war of words between the two sides.
Broad, now a TV commentator, joins a chorus of English voices expressing optimism about England’s chances Down Under. Zak Crawley recently claimed that the term “Bazball” “winds Australia up,” while Joe Root suggested this is his best opportunity to win an Ashes series in Australia. Former skipper Michael Atherton also weighed in, hinting at panic within the Aussie camp due to Pat Cummins’ injury and Scott Boland’s waning threat.
Broad’s criticism comes amid growing optimism in the England camp. The visitors are eyeing their first Ashes series win in Australia since 2010-11, the very series Broad referenced in his remarks. That tour saw England dominate a struggling Australian side 3-1, a memory still cherished by English fans.
Broad didn’t hold back in his assessment of Australia’s current vulnerabilities. He pointed to the absence of key figures like David Warner, who retired after the 2023-24 season, and raised concerns over the form and fitness of senior players.
“They’ve lost Warner, Cummins is under an injury cloud, and Boland hasn’t looked the same since 2023,” Broad noted. “There’s a fragility there that England can exploit.”
Australia, meanwhile, have remained tight-lipped in response to Broad’s remarks. However, insiders suggest that the comments have not gone unnoticed in the dressing room. With Pat Cummins nursing a minor injury and several younger players expected to step up, the hosts will be eager to prove their critics wrong.
Broad’s comments may be strategic as much as they are provocative. By questioning Australia’s strength, he’s not only rallying English confidence but also placing psychological pressure on the hosts. Whether his words prove prophetic or premature will unfold over the coming weeks.
Among all this noise, Australia has been hit with a major blow as their skipper Pat Cummins will be missing the 1st Test of the Ashes Test series due to a prolonged stress injury to his back. Senior batter and former skipper Steven Smith is all set to lead the side in Cummins’ absence.
The Ashes 2025-26 series is set to begin in Perth on December 5, followed by Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Below is the schedule for Ashes 2025-26.
England, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, are expected to continue their aggressive “Bazball” approach that has redefined their Test cricket identity.
As of now, only the touring side, England, have unveiled their squad for the upcoming series. The home team is likely to reveal their lineup later this month, most likely following the conclusion of the ODI series against India. Listed below is the England squad for the Ashes.
England Squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood