Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has opened up about losing his temper during the Ashes series, particularly in response to Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal, and he criticized Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, as an "absolute disgrace." The contentious incident unfolded when Alex Carey stumped Bairstow, who had been repeatedly straying out of his crease.
This incident generated significant debate during the Ashes series. Although Australia eventually won the second Test at Lord's, their victory was momentarily threatened by Ben Stokes, who played a remarkable century. Broad found himself embroiled in controversy as he assumed an antagonistic role on the field.
"As I'm walking out to bat at Lord's and there's boos going at the Aussies, the captain Pat Cummins is coming on to bowl so he's walking towards me at the end of his mark," Broad said on the Up Front podcast.
"And I just looked at him and said, 'You're an absolute disgrace'.
"He said, 'Oh yeah, you're hardly an upkeep of the spirit of cricket'," he added
Cummins' comment was a direct allusion to a notable incident from the 2013 Ashes series when Stuart Broad chose not to walk despite clearly edging the ball. This decision resulted in the umpire giving him a "not out" decision, sparking discussions and controversies in the cricketing world.
"So that upset me a bit," Broad said.
Stuart Broad, who recently retired from international cricket with the fifth-highest number of Test wickets, expressed regret for his actions. He admitted that he wishes he hadn't exaggerated the act of placing his bat inside the crease following Jonny Bairstow's dismissal.
"Then the next 10 minutes became me being very facetious and shouting in every time, which I had huge regrets about that night," he said.
"I was hugely embarrassed about it but I had no real control over what I was doing," Broad added.
In retrospect, Broad's candid admission reflects a desire for sportsmanship and fair play, acknowledging moments of frustration and heated exchanges that can arise in the heat of competition. As a respected figure in the cricketing world, Broad's reflection on this incident provides valuable insight into the emotions and pressures experienced by elite athletes on the field.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Huge blow to Pakistan, Hasan Ali ruled out of must-win South Africa clash due to illness
Team India practice update: Kohli bowls to captain Rohit in the nets, Suryakumar and Gill also roll their arm over
