England's much-hyped home Test series against India is nearly over as they will now shift their focus to arch-rivals ahead of travelling down under later this year for the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26.
Arguably the most fiercely contested Test series across the world, the bitter rivalry between England and Australia dates back to the 1800s.
England have not won the Ashes in the last 10 years, with the last series win coming on home soil in 2015. Australia, on the other hand, have won most of the contests and drawn a few, including the last Ashes, which was held in 2023 in England.
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Ahead of the all-important Test series, the former players have started to take jibes at each other to spice up the tone of the series.
READ: Indian batters who have scored most Test 100s before turning 24
What did Stuart Broad say to David Warner?
Warner started a war of words by taking a dig at England star Joe Root, who recently went past Australia legend Ricky Ponting's runs tally and became the second-highest run scorer in Test history after Sachin Tendulkar.
However, despite his heroics against India, Root has majorly struggled for form in Australian conditions as he has never scored a 100 in his long and illustrious. The England batter averages 35.68 in 14 Tests in Australia and has a highest score of 89.
Speaking to BBC Sport, former Australian opener David Warner had earlier said: "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."
MORE: Which Indian players have scored century at The Oval?
Legendary English fast bowler Stuart Broad has now hit back at Warner as he wrote on X: "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."
I’ve never heard England’s best ever batters front pad called a Surfboard 😂😂
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 2, 2025
Just for clarity. Hazelwood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three. https://t.co/HZc7hojQHi
When is Ashes 2025-26 starting?
England will play four warm-up matches between November 13 to December 8. In between the first test will kick off on November 21. The final match of the five-game series will start on January 4.