Ashes tensions boil over as Brendon McCullum hits back at Stuart Broad’s criticism of Jofra Archer
Internal divisions have erupted within English cricket as coach Brendon McCullum clashed with Stuart Broad over Jofra Archer’s performance with the second Test already gone.
England is turning on itself, with coach Brendon McCullum and his former charge Stuart Broad engaging in a loaded television exchange after the tourists went 2-0 down in the Ashes.
At the heart of the divide are queries about Jofra Archer’s inability to bowl at or near his top pace for a sustained period, a topic about which both Steve Smith and Ricky Ponting sledged the England paceman.
Archer bowled with extreme speed during Australia’s brief run chase of 65 at the Gabba on Sunday night, but could still not dismiss stand-in Aussie skipper Smith, who raced to an unbeaten 23 off nine balls as the hosts secured an eight-wicket win.
After one of Smith’s boundaries, Archer could be heard on stump mic telling Smith that he “likes to play shots when there’s not much on the scoreboard”.
Smith responded brutally, suggesting that “You bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion.”
Commentating on the match for Channel 7, legendary former Aussie skipper Ponting backed up Smith’s assessment.
“Jofra’s finally come to life, six days into the series, when the second Test match is gone – he starts chirping. Too late for that, champ,” Ponting said.
“That’s what Smithy said to him as well, ‘Bowling quick now, mate, when the game is over – good on ya’. Now they’ve all started. Too late, boys. You’ve had your chance for four days. You haven’t been good enough, (and) it’s too late to start.”
Interviewing McCullum after the match on a panel alongside Ponting for Channel 7, England pace great Broad – who retired at the end of the 2023 Ashes – questioned McCullum as to why it had taken Archer so long to bring out his best.
“We saw Jofra Archer, his quickest ever spell in Test match cricket. I’m sure England fans are sort of wondering, ‘where was that maybe with the second new ball on day two, when the game’s on the line?’ That was great theatre out there, but in Ashes cricket, you need this every single spell,” Broad said.
“Is there (a way) that the bowlers can pull a bit more out of themselves when the game’s on the line?”
McCullum then served up a subtle dig at Broad.
“Yeah, possibly, I used to have to have those conversations with you sometimes as well Broady,” McCullum said.
“But, you know, that’s just the nature of the bowlers, right? Sometimes, I think, particularly with Joff, I think he has an ability to go up and down the gears, and he feels he has a bit more control with his bowling when he slightly reduces his pace somewhat.”
McCullum then echoed the sentiments of captain Ben Stokes that England could not afford to show weakness ahead of the third Test in Adelaide. In between times, England will head to Noosa for a break.
“But then there’s times where he’s got to let fly and that’s always going to be the case, I guess. He would love to have more impact so far in the series that he’s had, but, you know, I think he still has a huge role to play for us in the next little while, but I will stress that the message from the captain, the message from myself, you can’t come to this country and start sulking and feeling sorry for yourself when things haven’t worked out. You can’t have a glass jaw when you tour Australia.
“You’ve got to stand up. You’ve got to go again. You’ve got to wear a few on the way in, and you’ve got to head towards the target. And that’s our job over next nine days to get ready for the next one.”
Originally published as Ashes tensions boil over as Brendon McCullum hits back at Stuart Broad’s criticism of Jofra Archer
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