"I stand by what I said" - Stuart Broad on citing 2021-22 Ashes series as void
Senior England seamer Stuart Broad has said that he stands by his comments about terming the 2021-22 Ashes series void despite copping backlash. The 36-year-old reasoned that England didn't have proper practice ahead of the series and spent time alone within the bubble.
England's only practice game ahead of the five-Test series was washed out as 29 overs were possible between the two sides. They drew the fourth Test in Sydney but lost four to lose the series comprehensively.
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In his column for the Daily Mail, the 36-year-old recalled that England hardly had the preparation for a high-profile series like the Ashes. Broad wrote:
"My recent comments that I’d personally voided the 2021–22 Ashes got a few people worked up, but I stand by what I said and don’t see how anyone could argue - because of what we had to go through to get that series played.
"On the last tour to Australia, though, we had nothing like the preparation for such high level sport. Our practice ahead of the five-match series was almost completely washed out, and we spent weeks of bubble life away from family and friends."
Players and staff from both sides also had COVID-19 during the series, with Travis Head and Chris Silverwood amongst the ones affected. Due to being a close contact of an infected person, Pat Cummins had to isolate himself and missed the second Test.
"It was not me saying that that particular Ashes should be a void series" - Stuart Broad
Broad also clarified his comments that the previous Ashes series didn't happen for him. He hit back at the Australians for taking aim at him, given that they hardly played an away Test during those times.
"In my own mind, in order to cope, I voided it. It was not me saying that that particular Ashes should be a void series, expunged from its great history. It was just in my head it didn’t happen because it was such a bad experience.
"I am not sure how Australians can comment on this because they didn't play a single away Test during this period. We’d committed to being locked in hotels to do so, and ultimately, we went there to keep the game alive, not to play high-level sport."
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The 2023 Ashes series starts on June 16 at Edgbaston.