Stuart Broad has stood by his claim that this was Australia’s worst Ashes side in 15 years, as the hosts made a point of referencing the England great in their Adelaide celebrations.
Broad famously claimed ahead of the summer that Australia’s team was at its weakest point in 15 years, since England last captured the urn Down Under in 2010-1.
At the time, he insisted it was ‘not an opinion’, but rather ‘a fact’, pointing to Australia being in a state of transition with selection uncertainty.
Those comments were not missed by Australia, with Marnus Labuschagne mentioning them in an ABC interview following the retention of the Ashes in the third Test in Adelaide.
Travis Head then posted a photo of himself and Pat Cummins to social media late on Sunday night, with the caption ‘Is it 2010 yet?’ with three laughing emojis.
Speaking after Australia’s 82-run win in Adelaide handed the hosts a 3-0 lead, Broad insisted his comments were accurate and England had simply played at ’20 per cent of their ability’.
Former fast bowler Stuart Broad (pictured) has doubled down on his bold pre-series claim
The Test legend (pictured next to current England coach Brendon McCullum) claims England have been nowhere near their best
Aussie batter Travis Head (pictured next to captain Pat Cummins) didn’t miss the chance to take aim at Broad’s prediction
‘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.’
Broad pointed to Cummins missing the first two Tests, Josh Hazlewood missing the series and Usman Khawaja’s back spasms as proof Australia were vulnerable.
‘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.
Recalled batter Usman Khawaja (pictured) took a shot at England’s ‘Bazball’ style of play after Australia took the third and deciding Test
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins (pictured) missed the first two Test matches – but made a successful return from injury in Adelaide
‘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.’
Asked after the match where this Australian side ranked compared to others in the past 15 years, England captain Ben Stokes simply replied: ‘Better than us’
Australia’s celebrations continued on Monday, before training resumes in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Several ex-players in Adelaide on commentary duties were invited into Australia’s changerooms.
Players wore T-shirts with RonBall emblazoned on them, alongside a cartoon of coach Andrew McDonald.
True Blue was played on repeat before the singing of team song, with Nathan Lyon throwing off his crutches and propping himself up on teammates.
Australia will likely lose both Lyon (hamstring) and Cummins (managing his back) for the fourth Test in Melbourne, but players are insistent their job is not done.
‘It is special (winning an Ashes),’ quick Mitchell Starc said.
‘With a lot being made outside the groups, whilst we don’t pay too much attention to it, things get heard and things get sent around.
‘There will be a lot of pleasure with being in the situation where we are.
‘But we want to win the next two (Tests).’
