Ashes 2025-26: Stuart Broad opens up on his viral reaction from the AUS vs ENG 1st Test
Former England pacer Stuart Broad has shed light on the viral moment that captured his stunned reaction during England’s dramatic collapse in the first Ashes Test in Perth. While commentating alongside Alison Mitchell and Matthew Hayden, Broad was visibly taken aback as England crumbled from a steady 1/65 to a shocking 164 all out in just 18 overs. His expression—eyes closed, head tilted back in disbelief, was caught on camera and quickly spread across social media after Cricket 7 posted it on X.
Speaking about the incident, Broad explained that his reaction was completely instinctive, triggered by the suddenness and severity of England’s collapse. He admitted he felt a surge of frustration and disbelief as the wickets kept tumbling. Closing his eyes, he joked, was a brief escape from the painful reality unfolding in front of him, almost as if he could will the chaos away by not watching it. Broad added that, like many English fans, he was hopeful after a promising start, which made the rapid downfall even harder to digest.
“That’s what Test cricket does to you, doesn’t it? It sort of brings all your emotions out. It was that period of commentary where we lost four in the blink of an eye. When ‘Rooty’ [Joe Root] chopped on, it was just a natural reaction for me to just close my eyes and just pray it wasn’t actually happening," stated former England pacer Stuart Broad.
"If I close them, maybe this isn’t actually happening? I’ve been there loads of times before in Australia … where they just opened that door slightly. And you just see Jamie Smith walking out to bat, and think you’ve never been in a situation like this before, you’ve never felt what is going on. Credit to Australia, they were absolutely superb – but England just opened that door,” he added.
Broad further explained that his reaction was completely authentic, reflecting precisely what any passionate England supporter would have felt watching the collapse unfold. He said that in that moment, he wasn’t thinking as a former cricketer or commentator, but simply as someone who deeply cares about England’s performance in the Ashes. The emotional weight of seeing wickets fall in quick succession made it impossible to hide his disappointment. Broad also pointed out that the challenge facing England’s batters was far greater than it may have appeared on television.
They were not only dealing with the relentless swing and accuracy of world-class bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, but also with the psychological impact of playing in front of nearly 50,000 Australian fans at the stadium. The hostile atmosphere, the roaring crowd, and the pressure of the Ashes all combined to make the situation extremely intimidating. According to Broad, such an environment can rattle even seasoned players, amplifying every mistake and making the task of rebuilding an innings far more difficult. His reaction, he said, captured the frustration, anxiety, and helplessness that many England fans must have been feeling in that overwhelming moment.
"I’ve seen it plenty of times in Australia when not just the Australian cricket team grab the game but the whole stadium does and you felt the whole energy of everything change. It’s so difficult to do because you’re not just facing Mitchell Starc, you’re facing a 50,000 crowd and the whole energy becomes quite intimidating," Broad added.
