Veteran England fast bowler Stuart Broad has claimed that Australia’s 4-0 Ashes win in the 2021-22 season doesn’t count as the real Ashes triumph and wants England to recreate the magic of the famous 2005 series.
In an interview to the Daily Mail, Broad reasoned that due to the COVID restrictions, players couldn’t socialise and practise the way they usually do, hence there was no such enthusiasm and passion keeping in mind how big Ashes has always been to both the sides.
“Nothing was harsher than the last Ashes series. But in my mind I don’t class that as a real Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game,” said Broad.
“Nothing about that series was high-level performance because of the Covid restrictions. The training facilities, the travel, not being able to socialise. I’ve written it off as a void series,” he added.
The Nottingham-born pacer expressed his desire to see England replicating the success of the 2005 Ashes series and inspire fans across the country. Notably, the English team regained the famous urn for the first time in 18 years in 2005 with a 2-1 series victory, which is widely rated as the best Ashes series ever played.
“I just want the whole series to grip the nation and inspire kids the way 2005 did. I want our players to take positive options at all times and if there’s a day we get bowled out for a 100, it is what it is. As long as the next day we come back with the same intent and become even more aggressive and entertain even more,” Broad added.
For the unversed, Broad has a splendid record in Ashes, as the right-arm paceman has taken 131 wickets in 35 matches with 8/15 being his best figures in an innings. Broad is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Ashes history after Shane Warne (195), Glenn McGrath (157), and Hugh Trumble (141).
