Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad lashes out at ‘characterless and soulless’ Edgbaston surface
Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers for England but the seamer has lashed out on the “characterless and soulless” Edgbaston pitch after the end of second day’s play.
“How can I be polite [about the pitch]?” Broad told the BBC.
“It is a very slow, low surface that zaps the energy out of the ball. It is pretty characterless so far, pretty soulless, but you can only judge a surface towards the end of the match and see how it develops.
“I’m not really a big no-ball bowler…. I have probably bowled more today than in a Test match day before. There’s no excuse.
“But it is the first innings of an Ashes Test match, you have some big emotions there so you are trying to gain energy from the surface and maybe pushing a little bit too hard.”
“It is certainly one of the slowest pitches I can remember bowling on in England… hopefully it is not a trend for the whole series.
“It’s been a gruelling day on a pitch that has offered very little so far,” he added.
Australia’s deficit was down to 82 runs after Khawaja revived Australia’s fortunes with an unbeaten 126. He had excellent support in consecutive half-century partnerships with Travis Head (50), Cameron Green (38) and Alex Carey (52 not out).
