With the Ashes set to ignite once again on November 21 at Perth Stadium, the verbal sparring has already begun—led by none other than former England pacer Stuart Broad. But it was Steve Smith’s dry wit that stole the pre-series spotlight.
Stuart Broad stokes the fire
Broad, speaking on his Love for Cricket podcast, pulled no punches as he hyped up England’s chances, declaring that this is “the worst Australian team since 2010.” In contrast, he labeled England’s current squad as “the best England team since 2010,” alluding to the dominant side that clinched the Ashes down under in 2010-11.
The comments were vintage Broad—needle the Aussies, rattle the cage, and build up the tension before a single ball is bowled.
Steve Smith delivers a cheeky comeback
Asked about Broad’s jab, veteran Australian batter Steve Smith responded with typical understatement—and a touch of sarcasm.
“It’s our worst team, obviously, since 2010, that’s the mail anyway,” Smith laughed, as quoted by Fox Cricket.
But Smith wasn’t about to get pulled deep into the war of words, choosing instead to focus on the cricket ahead.
“There’s obviously been the back and forth and plenty of banter, which I don’t like to really get involved in,” Smith said.
Ashes stage set for a blockbuster
Despite Broad’s provocation, Smith made it clear that he sees the upcoming series as a showdown between two world-class teams.
“It’s going to be a wonderful series. I think England are a really good side at the moment. We’ve been a really good side over the last three or four years in particular, making two Test Championship finals,” he added.
That recent track record includes World Test Championship Final appearances in 2021 and 2023, underlining Australia’s sustained excellence in the longest format.
And when it comes to excitement levels, Smith couldn’t be clearer:
“It’s going to be exciting. Can’t wait,” Smith said, setting the tone for what promises to be another thrilling Ashes battle.
A familiar script with fresh intrigue
Verbal jousts are nothing new in Ashes build-ups, but the tension always adds fuel to one of sport’s oldest rivalries. With England arriving confident and Australia eager to prove critics wrong, the 2025 Ashes is already shaping up as a must-watch.
