The Ashes 2021/22: David Warner v Stuart Broad rivalry reignited in Australia

Stuart Broad knocked over David Warner seven times in 104 balls last Ashes — now we are set for the next chapter in a great sporting rivalry.

As Stuart Broad prepares for a new assault on David Warner, he only has to go to his cupboard to be reminded of the furnace he’s walking into at the Gabba.

“I’ve got a ‘Stuart Broad’s a s--t bloke’ stubby holder at home,” says Broad.

A souvenir of his infamous 2013 trip to Brisbane where he –was branded a ‘cheat’ for not walking during the previous series.

“I get it out every time Australia loses actually.”

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The amber fluid it holds will certainly taste even sweeter if Broad can once again take down Warner in his own backyard.

Broad knocked over the Australian anchorman seven times in the space of 104 balls during the 2019 Ashes in the UK, in an extraordinary Ashes domination.

David Warner was dismissed by Stuart Broad seven times in 104 balls in 2019.

The goalposts shift now Warner is back on home soil where he has made minced meat of visiting attacks with 18 Test centuries, but Broad is confident lightning can strike twice.

“Yeah, 100 per cent. I bowled a lot of around the wicket to him last time, which he’ll be expecting our bowlers to do similar so … we might look at ways of changing it,” Broad told News Corp.

“Actually, the plan of bowling might not change that much here. Might still be trying to hit the top of the stumps, but just use slightly different fields.

“In England you might leave three slips and a gully, here you can put a catching cover and catching mid-wicket and maybe be less aggressive … to just allow the right length to be bowled.”

England’s attack led by 39-year-old Jimmy Anderson and 35-year-old Broad has been written off as ‘Dad’s Army’ without speedster Jofra Archer available.

But key to Broad’s confidence is his claim that the philosophy ‘pace wins’ in Australia is a complete myth.

“I’ve actually got on my iPad here all wickets falling in Australia to right-arm seamers over the wicket to right-handers and around the wicket to left-handers,” said Broad.

BROAD’S SEVEN DEADLY WARNER WICKETS (taken over just 104 balls during 2019 Ashes)

News Corp

1st innings, first Test, Edgbaston
Warner lbw Broad 2
Broad sets the tone for the series by striking in just his second over, trapping Warner in front with a full and fast delivery. Warner, thinking he’s out plumb, walks to the rooms as the crowd goes wild. But hawk-eye shows ball was missing leg stump and Warner failed to review. Broad ends the innings with 5/86.

2nd innings, first Test, Edgbaston
Warner c Bairstow b Broad 8
Warner tries to leave, but the ball is an awkward length and he can’t quite get his bat out of the way. Broad, in his second over, isn’t convinced but the slips cordon is adamant and review the decision. The ball has nicked the back of Warner’s bat and Broad has his 450th Test wicket.  

1st innings, second Test, Lord’s
Warner b Broad 3
Broad comes in round the wicket, the ball darts in and clips the leg-side bail. Warner tried to play a defensive shot but was well beaten by a great ball. 

2nd innings, third Test, Leeds
Warner lbw Broad 0
Broad delivers from wide on the crease and movement off the seam sees the ball whack into Warner’s pad. The umpire hesitates but then gives it out, Warner reviews, DRS confirms umpire’s decision. Warner is gone for a second-ball duck. 

1st innings, fourth Test, Manchester
Warner c Bairstow b Broad 0
Broad strikes in the first over. Warner leaves a tight one, but the next ball is another good length, wide of off stump, but doesn’t shape away and Warner is too late to get his bat out of the way and he edges it to the keeper.

2nd innings, fourth Test, Manchester 
Warner lbw Broad 0
Broad sets Warner up nicely with a tight over, finishing with a straighter delivery on a good length that hits him in the pads. Warner suffers his first pair in Test cricket and that’s three ducks in a row. 

2nd innings, fifth Test, The Oval
Warner c Burns b Broad 11 
In just the seventh over of the innings, bowling round the wicket, Broad entices Warner into an edge and Burns takes a fine catch in the slips. Broad ends the innings with 4-62.

 

“I think our English media get a bit obsessed with 150km/h in Australia. I think it’s a nice line to go with. But actually, a lot of the wickets are just due to ruthless consistency.

“Josh Hazlewood does it, it’s what Glenn McGrath did for a long period of time. Craig McDermott. Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander from South Africa. Bowlers who just don’t give away bad balls and who are relentless by building pressure for long periods of time.

“We are going to have to do that. Put first innings runs on the board with the bat and just be relentless time after time with the ball.”

Broad’s game plan in 2019 to Warner was simple, but the result of extensive homework into the Australian’s history of dismissals at Test level. Basically: hit the stump, don’t let him cut, don’t miss on the off-side and if you’re going to miss – make sure it’s on the leg-side.

But after Warner’s Lazarus-type response at the World Cup to be crowned player of the tournament, Broad is under no illusions that the left-handed fighter he faces at the Gabba will be in a very different mindset to the one he got on top of in England two and a half years ago.

There is one chink in the armour though that England are determined to exploit: Australia hasn’t played a Test in 11 months.

“On that tour (in 2019) he’d already done a World Cup and the Ashes was towards the end of a long trip and I think by the end he was probably quite tired and probably quite happy to be on the plane home,” said Broad.

“I’m very aware that he’ll be at home this time … and it will be up to us to try and capitalise on the Australian batsmen’s lack of red-ball cricket. That’s been our positive angle at the moment.

“The Australians don’t actually have that rhythm of batting for two hours, break, and trying to bat for six or seven hours, which is what they’re so strong at in Australia. They put 400 on the board very consistently because they bat long periods.

“But to bat long periods of time they’ve got to leave well and judge really well for that and there’s not going to be many batters coming into this series from either team with that rhythm behind them.”

What Broad is bracing for is a bizarre Ashes where he believes some crazy anomalies could occur on the scoresheet.

Australia has had no Test cricket, and England none since August – and the lack of form guide makes Broad feel anything could happen at the Gabba.

“We know how important the first Test is in this series,” said Broad.

“And that Test match is going to be won by the XI that finds the rhythm the quickest. It wouldn’t surprise me if a team lost 5-30 or bowlers sprayed it everywhere because, realistically, three and a half months at the highest level without red-ball cricket (is a long time).

David Warner bowled by Stuart Broad at Lord's (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“Every player is going to be in exactly the same boat. Technically starting again at the Gabba. As players we’re going to be falling on our experiences, falling on the feelings we’ve had there.”

Given the lack of preparation, Broad said it will be the experience of Warner, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne that will come to the fore.

But if those experienced players cancel each other out, it could be a kid wet behind the ears who can steal the Ashes for their team.

“We know how important key players are in an Ashes series. But I think it’ll be the players who aren’t necessarily talked about that might be the key,” said Broad.

“If those more unexpected or inexperienced guys can almost be an add-on bonus to what the key players will consistently deliver. Guys like Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley and Cameron Green could have an impact on the series (and be a point of difference) depending on who steps up to the plate.”

Originally published as The Ashes 2021/22: David Warner v Stuart Broad rivalry reignited in Australia