Ashes 2023: When the Ashes are on, he’s on – Michael Vaughan lauds Stuart Broad after veteran pacer breaches 600 Test wickets barrier

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan had handed Stuart Broad his debut Test match cap. After playing 166 Test matches (one more innings still to go), Broad is England’s second most successful bowler ever and it would be an understatement to say he has come a long way.

On Wednesday, the lanky paceman wrote his name in the history books, becoming the second fast bowler after James Anderson to scale down the mountain of 600 Test wickets.

Broad plumbed Usman Khawaja in front of the wickets and then accounted for Travis Head, who was his 600th scalp in Test cricket. The veteran returned with figures of 2-68 in the first innings after Australia was bowled out for 317.

Furthermore, Broad became England’s most successful bowler against Australia, overtaking Sir Ian Botham’s tally of 148 Test wickets. Broad enjoys bowling against the Ashes rivals as he has taken a total of eight five-wicket hauls.

“He ( Broad) can but it all depends on how long he wants to play for. Don’t think Jimmy ( Anderson) is going to play that much longer . Don’t know what’s in Stuart Broad’s mind but what I do know is that when the Ashes are on, He’s on,” said Vaughan on Cricbuzz.

Vaughan feels Stuart Broad might not be around for the next 2025-26 Ashes series, which will be played in Australia.

“I don’t think he’s ( Broad) going to be around in Australia in 2025/26. He can carry on playing and commentate on games in the Hundred and other white ball games. He has said these last 14 months have felt like when he was a kid. The Baz-Ben combination has really stripped away all the nonsense one finds in Test match cricket and International sport,” added Vaughan.

Broad is currently the leading wicket-taker of the ongoing Ashes with 18 wickets in seven innings. Vaughan reckons Broad has enjoyed playing under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes in these last 14 months.

“They’ve told the players this is the best time of your life, enjoy it. Enjoy the game, take on the opposition, play fearlessly. Genuinely feel he’s absolutely loved playing these last 14 months and I would say to him play another year, it’s not going to do you any damage,” said Vaughan.

Broad will look to continue the good show against Australia in the rest of the Ashes.