England's veteran paceman Stuart Broad, long public enemy number one for Australian cricket fans, has lifted the lid on one of the most explosive moments behind the scenes during the recent Ashes series.
In a revealing interview, Broad detailed how a brutal front-page sledge from The West Australian newspaper became unexpected fuel for the English dressing room, particularly igniting star all-rounder Ben Stokes.
The Sledge That Backfired
The West Australian's now-infamous front page featured a photoshopped image of Broad with a tear running down his cheek, accompanied by the bold headline declaring the English team was "on the ropes" and "on the verge of an Ashes meltdown."
Rather than demoralising the visitors, the publication became what Broad describes as "absolute gold" for team morale.
Stokes' Explosive Response
According to Broad, it was captain Ben Stokes who had the most visceral reaction to the newspaper's attempt at psychological warfare.
"Stokesy's reaction was brilliant," Broad revealed. "He came into the dressing room absolutely fired up, waving the paper around and using some rather colourful language about what he thought of their prediction."
The article apparently became a rallying point for the English squad, with players pinning copies to the dressing room wall as motivation throughout the series.
From Villain to Victory
Broad, who has enjoyed a long-running pantomime villain relationship with Australian crowds, admitted the newspaper's attempt to unsettle the team had completely the opposite effect.
"It gave us this us-against-them mentality that Stokes thrives on," Broad explained. "Instead of feeling pressure, we felt united. That newspaper became our unofficial team mascot for the rest of the tour."
The revelation provides fascinating insight into the mind games that define Ashes cricket and how modern professional teams use external criticism to bond together.
