Premier England pacer Stuart Broad is “buzzing” to play the first Test of Ashes 2021-22 at Gabba, Brisbane.
The much-anticipated Test series, Ashes 2021-22 is less than a week away from now. The five-Test series will begin from 8th December at the Gabba followed by the second Test match at Adelaide, Oval on 16th December.
The third and fourth Test match will be played on 26th December and 5th January at MCG and SCG respectively. The fifth and final Test match of the Ashes will take place on 14th January at Perth Stadium.
Read Also: Nathan Lyon says Australia believes they can whitewash England 5-0
Speaking to reporters ahead of the first Test match, English pacer Stuart Broad said that playing at Gabba is one of the best cricketing experiences. He correlated playing at Gabba to Wanderers stadium in South Africa.
“It’s what you train for, it’s what you live for. Playing at the Gabba is one of the best cricketing experiences that you can have. It has that same feeling as (playing at) The Wanderers in South Africa,” Stuart Broad said.
Broad talked about how playing in Australia is all about "enjoying the experience", saying not feeling the pro-Australian buzz at the Gabba is like "playing the wrong game".
“It’s very pro-Australian. It’ll be even more so without the Barmy Army (England fans) but you have to enjoy that experience. If you’re not walking onto that field buzzing and excited, looking up at the stands… you’re playing the wrong game,” he said.
Stuart Broad admitted that even after being well prepared they have come out on the losing side in previous Ashes tours. He mentioned that his side will be “freshest” going to the Ashes 2021-22 and they’ll have a lot of energy and buzz in the next few months.
“I’ve been on Ashes tours where we have been extremely well prepared, played three or four first-class games, and we’ve come out on the losing side. Arguably, we’re going to be the freshest England team going into an Ashes series. We should have a lot of energy and a lot of buzz throughout the next few months,” he said.
Read Also: Cummins needs to do a lot of homework to have success as captain- L Sivaramakrishnan
Earlier this year, Team India created history as they breached Australia’s fortress at Gabba to win the Border-Gavaskar series. The visitors chased 328 runs to hand a defeat to the hosts for the first time in 33 years at the venue.
Australia likely will be under pressure as they will be playing their first match since their defeat against India at the Gabba and it remains to be seen if England can take advantage of that.
The visitors retained the Ashes in 2019 after drawing the series 2-2 in England.
(Reuters inputs)
