The pressure was huge on Stuart Broad, the veteran England fast bowler, especially in the absence of James Anderson, coming into the fourth Ashes 2015 Test at his home ground, Trent Bridge in Nottingham. They needed to win the game to win the urn back home, and for that, they needed to go through the touring batting line-up.

Stuart Broad sent back the left-handed batter, Chris Rogers, to draw first blood on the third ball of the fixture. The southpaw went for a huge drive and ended up in the hands of the slip field. Two balls later, he squared up Steve Smith into the third slip fielder, before he got Shaun Marsh in the same fashion.

See Also: ECB decides to ditch special Hundred-branded ball for The Hundred 2025

All the batters were going for the huge drives, but were not successful in getting the right balance on the surface. Broad, later, earned the wicket of Adem Voges for one run in four balls as Ben Stokes grabbed an incredible catch at the gully region. Suddenly, they found themselves five down on the first ball of the fifth delivery.

Watch: Relive Stuart Broad’s bowling figures of 8/15 during Ashes 2015

Michael Clarke, the captain of the Australian side, got frustrated with the batting performance and went for a flashing drive against Stuart Broad. He got an outside edge on the bat as the ball flew into the slips region, where Sir Alastair Cook grabbed a special catch. Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson’s feet were stuck on the crease and got caught at the slips.

🗓️ On This Day in 2015…

Broady took eight in one of the greatest spells in Ashes history 😱 pic.twitter.com/H0REy3laUC

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2025

Nathan Lyon was the last man to go for nine runs as the visitors were bundled for just 60 runs in 18.3 overs. The right-arm pacer ended with figures of 8/15 in 9.3 overs for an economy rate of 1.61 with five maidens. The Three Lions, then, piled up 391/9 in their first innings to grab a lead by 331 runs.

Australia did well with the bat in comparison in the second innings. Voges, Rogers, and David Warner were the three half-centurions of the innings, but their 253 runs were not enough to save them from the defeat by innings and 78 runs. Broad added one more wicket to the tally in the second innings.

Former England pacer Stuart Broad praised Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for his outstanding performance in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Playing his fifth consecutive match in the series, the 31-year-old showed great stamina and fighting spirit to help India win by just six runs.

India made a strong comeback by reducing England from 301/3 to 337/6 during their chase of 374 in the final session on Day 4. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Broad said that while many people thought the early end to Day 4 broke India’s momentum, it actually helped from a bowler’s point of view.

Siraj Shines with Match-Winning Spell at The Oval

Mohammed Siraj helped India fight back in the first innings by taking four key wickets when England looked strong at 129/1 while chasing India's 224. But his most important spell came in the final innings. He took five wickets and helped India bowl England out for 367 in their chase of 374, turning the match in India’s favor.

After the match, former England pacer Stuart Broad praised Siraj on Sky Sports and said: "I am delighted for Mohammed Siraj. Hopefully, I get an opportunity to shake his hands because I was worried yesterday that we would be talking about that dropped catch (Brook's drop). And it would be the catch he would be boarding that plane home thinking, ‘If I had taken that, could things have been different?’"

Broad added: "For a bowler who gave everything in the series, he deserved to take the final wicket and be remembered for bowling his team to an exciting Test win instead of for a mistake on the boundary."

Siraj was named Player of the Match and finished as the highest wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets in five Tests.

Also Read -'This will rank...'- KL Rahul reflects on winning ENG vs IND 5th Test victory at Kennington Oval

“India Deserved Something from the Series” – Broad

Stuart Broad also said that the 2-2 draw was a fair result and praised both teams for their efforts. He shared: "India definitely deserved something out of the series. If you look at all the Test matches, they could have won, so they deserved something out of the series. Maybe not a win, because England also played some fantastic cricket."

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri called the draw a massive result, especially because the team missed senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah in some matches.

Shubman Gill, who led India for the first time in a Test series, scored 754 runs at an average of 75.40, including four centuries, and ended the series as the highest run-scorer. Siraj, under pressure, delivered one of his best performances with nine wickets in the final Test and led India to a six-run win at The Oval.

The buzz around the upcoming Ashes is already touching the ceiling. The prestigious 5-match Test series will start in November, later this year. Before that, there were plenty of weeks left. But the cricket world already is witnessing the rising heat. Former cricketers from both nations have started to exchange words through various media platforms. 

Former England captain Nasser Hussain also joined the rank by issuing a warning to his nation's boys who will take a flight to Australia for The Ashes. Hussain said that there, in Australia, England cricketers will need to stay mentally tough. Because the visiting side has to deal with mind games. 

"I do think you need tough cricketers. And I mean people who would stand up out there. When you go out there, you are not taking on 11 Australian cricketers; you are taking on a nation. You’ll get out there, and the media will be on you. Within a week of landing, they will say, ‘Is this the worst England side ever to come?’ which was probably true in our case. Can’t bowl, can’t bat, can’t field. The headline will come out ‘Stuart Broad is a…something bloke", Nasser Hussain said while speaking to Sky Sports Cricket while sitting by the side of Stuart Broad. 

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 5th Test: Edge, catch, Ben Duckett departs! Prasidh Krishna on roll

'You have to be up for the fight'

For example, he mentioned Darren Gough, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, and Stuart Broad, who achieved success against Australia, in Australia, not only for the skills they used to possess but also for the blend of skills and fearless nerves, according to Nasser. 

"So, you are taking on them; you are taking on the public. If you look historically, the characters, not just cricketers, who have done well against Australia—Darren Gough stood up to everyone, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, and Stuart Broad. People that would not back down in a battle because that is what the Ashes is. It is a battle for however long, however many days, and you have to be up for the fight," he added. 

"People that will not back down in a battle" 😤

Nasser Hussain says England need 'tough cricketers' in their squad to travel to Australia for the Ashes 👊 pic.twitter.com/1dDhyaLsuh

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2025

A few months are left before the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26, which is scheduled to start on November 21, 2025. Prior to that, former Australia international David Warner started a banter through his verbal exercise. Warner took a cheeky dig at England maestro Joe Root. The former cricketer criticized his footwork by comparing it with a surfboard.

Stuart Broad, former England cricketer, did not miss the opportunity to fire back at the Aussie. Over the years, Root developed himself as the prime middle-order batsman. But whenever he was up against their archrival Australia, Root failed to convert his momentum into a triple digit. Across 14 tests in the country, he has a top score of 89 and an average of 35.68, without a single century to his name.

Warner predicted that the right-handed batter can be exposed because of his footwork and can be easily trapped for a leg before the wicket. For that, Josh Hazlewood can be the nemesis for Joe Root, as predicted by David Warner. Stuart Broad corrected the inputs provided by the former opener. 

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 5th Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal's heartwarming celebration after smashing century at The Oval

War of words to set the tone

"The big anchor there is Root, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia. Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg," Warner said to BBC Sport.

I’ve never heard England’s best ever batters front pad called a Surfboard 😂😂
Just for clarity. Hazelwood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three. https://t.co/HZc7hojQHi

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 2, 2025

Using his social media platform, Broad said that Hazlewood has dismissed Root leg-before only three times in his career. Broad's information was correct, as Root has fallen to Hazlewood 10 times in 18 tests, and against Pat Cummins, he lost his wicket 11 times in test cricket. "I’ve never heard of England’s best-ever batter's front pad called a Surfboard. Just for clarity. Hazelwood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three," Broad said on the social media platform 'X.'. 

Batting has worked out for India in this five-match series in England, but even after eight innings at Old Trafford in Manchester, they have yet to find out their number three position in the batting order. Karun Nair batted at this position four times and managed 110 runs at an average of 27.50, while Sai Sudharsan got just 61 runs in the first innings of Manchester. 

In the last three series, they used multiple options at number three, including Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Paddikal, Nair, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and many others. None of them was able to provide them the contribution they perhaps expected, like they got from Cheteshwar Pujara or Rahul Dravid in the past.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Predicted match result for 4th Test in Manchester

‘For Sudharsan, it was all mental fatigue and tiredness. That’s why number three is such a tough place. Around the world, there are not many number three players who have produced consistent performances on the back day. You need to deal with a certain scenario or situation. It’s a difficult place to bat.’ Stuart Broad, the former pacer, shed light during a post-show on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Stuart Broad and Ricky Ponting analyze India’s number 3 in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Broad pointed out how the number three position around the world hasn’t contributed much. He reckoned that Sudharsan’s dismissal in the second innings of Manchester came only because of the mental fatigue. Ricky Ponting added a little more than that.

"Sudharsan is going to be good enough" 💪

Ricky Ponting & Stuart Broad discuss the number three batting position for India 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/haiLbiOHRO

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2025

‘It just creates internal pressure a youngster doesn’t need, looking over the shoulder. That was where it surprised me. They made a call in the first Test on Sudharsan and then went back to him. I wasn’t that young when I moved up to three. But it requires a bit of reassurance from the captain and coaches about how he goes. Ben Stokes has done it to Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley and kept backing them to get the match-winning knocks.’ Ponting addressed.

India finished the fourth day with 130 runs behind and eight wickets in hand. Both Shubman Gill and KL Rahul remained unbeaten at the close and will need to stay longer in the crease for India to end the game in a draw.

England and India are battling it out in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, with the hosts dominating proceedings. After dismissing India for 358, England made a powerful response, racing to 332/2 by lunch on Day 3, thanks to a massive 166-run opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Amid this onslaught, the legendary England bowler, Stuart Broad, raised questions about why Indian captain Shubman Gill delayed the introduction of off-spinner Washington Sundar, especially after his impressive four-wicket haul (4/22) in the previous Test at Lord’s that helped skittle England out for just 192.

The Indian bowling attack appeared toothless on a surface that seemed to favour turn, and Sundar’s absence was puzzling given his recent form. When Sundar was finally brought on just before the lunch break, he immediately impressed with his drift and control. Former England pacer Stuart Broad also noted the late introduction, pointing out the noticeable drift Sundar generated. His entry brought some relief for the visitors, who desperately needed breakthroughs after a frustrating morning session dominated by England’s top-order batters.

See Also: [WATCH] ENG VS IND 4TH: Mohammed Siraj clean bowled Chris Woakes

“All around Old Trafford, everybody had been saying, ‘Where is Washington Sundar, why are we not seeing him?’ They were 300/2 and we hadn’t seen the off-spinner, he got four wickets in the first innings at Lord’s,” Broad said on JioHotstar during the lunch interval.

I was really surprised: Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad remarked that Washington Sundar bowled just three overs before lunch and immediately generated noticeable drift against the right-handers, which brought the outside edge into play. He expressed surprise at the situation and stated that, in his opinion, it was a mistake by Shubman Gill not to introduce Sundar earlier in the game.

“He came for three overs pre-lunch and you saw he got the drift against right-handers, looked like outside edge came in the game. I was really surprised, it was a mistake by Shubman Gill to not bring (him) in the game," he added.

English cricket pundits Nasser Hussain and Stuart Broad have expressed their concern and hope for a quick recovery for Rishabh Pant, following his injury during the Manchester Test. Pant, who had been batting fluently, suffered a painful blow in the 68th over while attempting a reverse sweep. The ball took an under-edge and struck just above his right toe. Clearly in agony, Pant was unable to put weight on his foot and had to be carried off the field in an ambulance. The incident left Indian fans and commentators alike anxious about his condition.

Pant was rushed to a nearby medical facility, where he awaited the results of scans scheduled for Wednesday, July 23. While the full extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, early suspicion points to a possible toe fracture. However, Nasser Hussain and Stuart Broad, speaking on Sky Sports, remained hopeful that it was just a bad bruise. Both wished for Pant’s return to action on Day 2, acknowledging the significant role the wicketkeeper-batter plays in India's batting lineup during this crucial fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Rishabh Pant goes past Rohit Sharma's six-hitting tally, just one behind Virender Sehwag

“It has been India’s day – except for the injury to Pant. That is a big blow and it will be interesting what we hear overnight about that. Hopefully he is okay. This game needs Pant and the series has been blessed by having him in it. Both sets of fans cheered him today when he came out to bat," Hussain said on Sky Sports at the end of the day's play.

Pant has been wonderful to watch and commentate on: Stuart Broad

Rishabh Pant showcased a brilliant display of batting during the second session of the fourth Test on Wednesday in Manchester. Coming in after captain Shubman Gill's dismissal, Pant faced a challenging period and successfully forged a vital 72-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan across the second and third sessions. His attacking approach against England’s seamers saw him play several exquisite strokes, adding crucial momentum to India’s innings. Former England pacer Stuart Broad praised Pant’s efforts and expressed hope that the Indian medical staff could get him ready to return for Day 2 of the Test match.

"Pant has been wonderful to watch and commentate on. He's wonderful for world cricket, and we hope he recovers. The medical staff will be icing that swelling all night, and hopefully it's just a bruise and he can come out to bat," Broad added.

On July 11, 2025, during India’s third Test of the five-match series against England at Lord’s, Joe Root overtakes the former Indian captain Rahul Dravid’s record of most red-ball centuries as he celebrated his 37th one of the format. Only four players remain over his shoulder in the list including Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), and Kumar Sangakkara (38). 

Now, the biggest question that everyone, especially Indian fans, wants to know is whether the former captain can surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record of the most Test centuries. During the recent Sky Sports Cricket podcast, the two veteran players, Stuart Broad and Dinesh Karthik, voted for the modern great, Considering the number of Tests England plays, it should be a target to achieve.

See Also: [WATCH]: Rishabh Pant sweats in net session with injured finger during ENG vs IND 3rd Test

“It was lovely for Joe Root to go for an eighth Test century at Lord’s. It’s incredible. Let me tell you that you walk into the home dressing room and feel that it’s quite special. Really proud of how he is playing or he is going through his business. Certain players play well on these surfaces, while a few don’t, but the adaptation is always the key, and Joe Root was never going to be out on this track yesterday.” Broad addressed during the show.

Watch: Will Joe Root surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record? Dinesh Karthik predicts

“I definitely feel that Sachin Tendulkar’s 51 centuries are very much inside the way Joe Root is playing. He is young and they play so many Test matches. He is scoring well, then why not? Records are meant to be broken. And if he can break this record, it will be quite a record to break for the future.” Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian wicket-keeper batter explained.

Will Joe Root go on to break Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most Test centuries? 👀 pic.twitter.com/tk3nvQYtsu

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 11, 2025

Along with the most Test centuries, Root is also inching close to Tendulkar’s most Test runs of 15921. Currently, the England batter is at five with 13219 runs in 284 innings at an average of 50.84 with 37 centuries and 66 fifties. Dravid is just ahead of him with 13288 runs.

After a couple of off days with the bat, Root made a fine comeback in the ongoing series against India at Lord’s and will hope to continue the same rhythm going deep into the series as they look to get a lead of 2-1 before going to Manchester.

India's comprehensive 336-run win over England at Edgbaston has sensationally turned around the five-Test series, now finely balanced at 1-1. With the third Test scheduled for July 10 at the iconic Lord's, excitement is ramping up around the battle and possible team line-ups. Much of the spotlight is on India’s potent bowling unit, which former England pacer Stuart Broad described as “dangerous” during a Sky Sports discussion.

“This Indian bowling attack would worry me if I was in that England batting lineup,” Broad remarked, highlighting the particular challenge Lord’s could pose. “The ball just nips down that slope at Lord’s. Akash Deep brings the stumps into play, and if it swings, Bumrah will be lethal with the late movement.” The return of Jasprit Bumrah, coupled with Akash Deep’s recent exploits, only strengthens India’s case as they eye a rare Test win at the Home of Cricket.

Shubman Gill’s youthful side, high on confidence after their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston, looks both balanced and settled. Gill himself has been in imperious form, amassing 430 runs across both innings (269 and 161), while Akash Deep stunned the English with a match-winning 10-wicket haul. With Bumrah set to return, India's pace stocks appear more threatening than ever.

Team tweaks and tactical talk ahead of Lord’s

Former England captain Mark Butcher believes India will make minimal changes for Lord’s. “Bumrah will come back, and the rest will stay the same,” he said, while Kumar Sangakkara added that Prasidh Krishna might be the one to make way. “Siraj and Akash Deep will play. And they’ll probably retain Washington Sundar at No. 8 for the balance he offers,” Sangakkara added.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: 'Stokes faces his toughest challenge 'yet'—Michael Atherton previews Lord's Test

On England’s end, questions loom over their struggling pace unit. Broad admitted Chris Woakes was “unlucky” at Edgbaston but vouched for his strong Lord’s record. However, he warned against rushing in Jofra Archer or Gus Atkinson without adequate match fitness. “England plays well at Lord’s,” Broad said, “but this Indian attack—especially with Bumrah back—could pose a serious threat.”

Rishabh Pant isn’t just a cricketer he’s a moment waiting to happen. Every time he walks out to bat, there’s a buzz. You know something wild, hilarious, or flat-out brilliant is probably coming. That’s exactly why Stuart Broad, one of England’s greatest fast bowlers, couldn’t help but sing his praises on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a bigger entertainer,” Broad said. “Everything he does pulls you in. He’s one of those players that makes you want to stop what you’re doing, switch on the TV, or tune in on the radio because you just know something’s coming.” And honestly, he’s spot on. There’s no one quite like Pant in world cricket right now.

Whether it's a one-handed six or a reckless scoop that leaves the dressing room in shock, Pant plays on instinct. He’s unpredictable in the best way possible. And after smashing two stunning centuries in the ongoing series, including one at Headingley that had even England fans applauding, he’s once again reminded everyone why he’s such a rare talent.

ALSO READ: ENG vs IND: Monty Panesar backs Kuldeep Yadav’s selection for second Test

He Doesn’t Follow the Rules of Test Cricket — He Rewrites Them, Ball by Ball

Pant doesn’t just play shots  he creates moments. One ball he’ll make you laugh with a ridiculous scoop, the next he’ll silence the stadium with a monster six into the stands. That’s exactly what Stuart Broad was getting at. It’s not just about numbers or technique  it’s the energy he brings, the unpredictability, the pure joy of watching someone who doesn’t care about convention. He has this rare ability to shift the mood of a game instantly  from tension to excitement, from fear to hope. When Pant is at the crease, it feels like anything can happen, and often does.

In a time where Test cricket often struggles to hold short attention spans, Pant is a player who demands your focus. You don’t scroll your phone when he’s batting  you watch. And the fact that a seasoned legend like Broad who’s bowled to the best of the best for over a decade  puts Pant above all as an entertainer? That’s massive. He’s fearless, flawed, funny, and fascinating. He doesn't just entertain  he changes the vibe of a match, brings people into the game, and makes Test cricket feel alive again. Whether it’s day one or the dying minutes of day five, if Pant’s involved, you know it’s going to be worth watching.