Starc refutes Broad’s claim ahead of upcoming Ashes series

F.P. Report

DUBAI: Experienced Australia seamer Mitchell Starc has scoffed at suggestions from England veteran Stuart Broad that the most recent Ashes series Down Under was a void series due to COVID restrictions.

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the most recent Ashes series in Australia at the end of 2021 and start of 2022 in many ways, with a host of key players and officials missing Tests due to the restrictions in place and forced to isolate to reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading.

It was Australia that came out on top on home soil as they registered a comprehensive 4-0 triumph, but Broad recently stoked the fire ahead of the upcoming Ashes series in England when he declared that series was not a real Ashes series and should be void.

“Nothing was harsher than the last Ashes series,” Broad told the Daily Mail last month. “But in my mind, I don’t class that as a real Ashes.

“Nothing about that series was high-level performance because of the COVID restrictions. The training facilities, the travel, not being able to socialise. I’ve written it off as a void series.”

A host of Australia players have since refuted Broad’s claim, with Starc the most recent Test star to offer his thoughts on the matter.

Starc, a veteran of five Ashes series, believes England’s players received many luxuries during the series that others weren’t afforded and said he enjoyed the opportunity to help Australia return the little urn in such dominant style.

“The funniest thing out of that was they called it quarantine on the Gold Coast,” Starc told Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald. “I did seven of them. That was the easiest by a country mile.

“The Poms had the pool, the gym, they were in a resort on the Gold Coast, they trained at Metricon (now Heritage Bank Stadium), weren’t confined to their rooms and had their families there.

“Was that really quarantine? They were still allowed to play golf on tour. Is that an excuse for 4-0? Dunno. It was a pretty good series to be a part of.”

Starc and Broad will resume hostilities during the upcoming Ashes series in England, with the first of five Test matches commencing in Birmingham on June 16 and concluding on July 31 at The Oval in London.

Australia face India prior to the Ashes in the ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval, starting on June 7, while England take on Ireland in a four-day Test at Lord’s from June 1.