‘Muft ka dalal’- Fans reacts to Ben Stokes comments on selecting Stuart Broad in playing XI for the Ashes

England captain Ben Stokes has stated that Stuart Broad’s strong record against David Warner inspired his choice for the first Ashes Test against Australia. The much-anticipated five-match series is set to begin on Friday (June 15) at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. England’s comeback with Stokes and their head coach Brendon McCullum has been incredible, with the duo taking over a team that had only won one of their previous 17 games.

England’s starting lineup for the series opener has already been announced. The three pacers in the lineup are Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, and James Anderson, with Moeen Ali as the spin-bowling allrounder. The choice to leave out players like Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, and Chris Woakes raised some eyebrows until Stokes explained it.

It’s just one of those things: Ben Stokes

Stokes told media at Edgbaston ahead of Friday’s Ashes opener, ‘It’s just one of those things – like Ashwin against me. ‘Broady’ has been an unbelievable performer over many years.’ ‘What the Ashes brings, it’s so hard to look past someone like that. It’s so hard to look past Jimmy and ‘Robbo’ as well, he’s been incredible over the last year in all conditions. I’m very happy with the team we’ve ended up picking.’

He further added, ‘I am not going to sit here and say it isn’t a huge honour to lead England out against Australia in an Ashes series. ‘Australia have played some amazing cricket and that reflects on them being World Test champions. I know it’s a big deal. I know how much [this series] means to fans and players.’

The England skipper added: ‘It’s about making the guys in the dressing room believe they are incredible players, making them believe in themselves a lot more than they probably did before that, making them believe they were better than they originally thought. Hopefully I have done that.’

Stuart Broad Vs David Warner

Broad dominated Warner in the last Ashes series in England, dismissing him seven times in ten innings. Stokes also acknowledged Broad’s record against him, comparing it to that of India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Fans Reaction to Broad’s comments