England ended hopes of Australia's 5-0 whitewash in the ongoing Ashes series.
Heading into Day 2 of the Melbourne Test, the Three Lions had a lot to do as Australia were 46 runs ahead with all 10 wickets in hand.
However, Australia’s second innings folded for 132 on a green wicket offering substantial sideways movement for pace bowlers.
Chasing the target of 175, the tourists came out all guns blazing as Ben Duckett (34 off 26) and Zak Crawley (37 off 48) approached the game like a T20.
Australia did manage to get breakthroughs in quick succession, but they came too little too late, and in the end, Jacob Bethell (40) and Harry Brook (18*) ensured that the Ben Stokes-led side cruised home with four wickets remaining.
After the tourists avoided any danger of an Ashes whitewash, former England pacer Stuart Broad wore a happy look in the commentary box.
Broad’s reaction was shared by 7Cricket on social media, with the caption: “FINALLY we can post happy Broady! His reaction to England breaking the drought and winning a Test in Australia.”
Here’s the video:
After Australia secured the Ashes urn in just 11 days, Stuart Broad was brutally trolled for his comment about the home side. Before the series got underway, he called the current Australian lineup the “worst since 2010”.
This remark was mocked by Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head post the Adelaide win. However, Broad later said that he has no “regrets” about his earlier assessment.
“Do I regret saying that? No. I did say Australia would have to play very badly [to lose the Ashes] and England would have to play very well,” Broad said on his For The Love of Cricket podcast.
“Australia haven’t played very badly and England haven’t played very well. I had Australia down as favourites, but I didn’t have them down as 3-0 favourites. There are a lot of things that have gone England’s way [in terms of injury and illness suffered by Australian players]. England haven’t been good enough ultimately. Australia have been relentless in what they’ve done. They’ve showed age is just a number," he added.
Broad further opined that the current lineup pales in comparison to the 2013-14 side, which was led by Michael Clarke.
“Do I think the [Australian] side of 2013-14 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, as have every Australian team since 2010," Broad stated.
“England losing 3-0 by the third Test is not something new. I don’t disagree with my comment. England have been at 20 per cent of their ability," he remarked.
England will look to finish the Ashes series on a high in the New Year’s Test, slated to begin on January 4 at SCG.