‘It would be great for us if Australia try to take us on at our own game’ - Stuart Broad issues open challenge to Pat Cummins and co ahead of Ashes 2023

Veteran English pacer Stuart Broad issued an open challenge to Australia ahead of the Ashes 2023. Notably, England suffered a 4-0 defeat when these two sides last met in red-ball cricket but since then, a lot has changed for the Ben Stokes-led side. They have changed their approach and started playing an aggressive brand of cricket, which didn’t exist in Test cricket previously.

Courtesy of this, the Three Lions have managed to win a Test series against New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. Furthermore, they also defeated India in the rescheduled Test at Edgbaston. Thus, ahead of hosting the next edition of the marquee clash, Broad seems optimistic and eventually challenged Australia to counter the ‘Bazball’ revolution.

The 36-year-old also pointed out that players like Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja take a lot of time to settle down. Therefore, if England forces the visiting team to score quick runs, the Pat Cummins-led side may lose a few quick wickets. Moreover, he also cited Jack Leach's bowling as an example of challenging Steve Smith.

If we can get them playing in a slightly different style they could make mistakes: Broad

As per Stuart Broad, he would want Australia's mainstay, Steve Smith, to dare and come down the track to hit over the mid-off region. The prime reason for this challenge posed has been the number of wickets Leach has scalped via catching in the region is more than the number of LBW dismissals. So, Broad will want his skipper Ben Stokes to keep the fielders up all the time to increase the temptation to take risks by the Australian batters along with Smith.

“It would be great for us if Australia try to take us on at our own game. If we can get them playing in a slightly different style they could make mistakes and that would be brilliant for us. Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are all guys who like to bat time and accumulate. So if we can nibble away at them and just get them thinking, 'Why are we not scoring quicker? Why are we not moving the game forward?'

“I'd love Smith to dance down the track and sky one to mid-off early doors. That would be classic,” Broad was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Notably, England are desperate to regain the urn as the upcoming edition of the Ashes will begin on June 16 at Edgbaston. The Australian team meanwhile will reach by the end of May in order to get accustomed to the English condition. Meanwhile, players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Harris will soon travel to the United Kingdom (UK) in order to participate in the County Championship.