South Africa hires infamous Ashes villain Stuart Broad to plot Aussie downfall in WTC final
Updated . First published at
South Africa has turned to a legendary Ashes villain for advice ahead of next week's World Test Championship final.
The Proteas have brought retired English fast bowler Stuart Broad into camp to help prepare the men's team for the title-deciding one-off match, according to the UK Telegraph.
Australia and South Africa will play for the mace at Lord's in London.
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The Aussies hold the silverware after downing India in the last WTC final in 2023.
They will be favourites to beat the Proteas, whose qualification for the final was criticised given the standard of opposition faced in recent months.
Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing David Warner. Stu Forster via Getty Images
But South Africa has a trump card in Broad, who Australian batters and fans spent the best part of two decades being tormented by.
Broad's final match was the 2023 Ashes series finale at The Oval.
Earlier in that series he had gone to war with the Aussies at Lord's over Alex Carey's infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow.
Over a 16-year Test career, the lanky right-arm quick took 153 Australian wickets at 28.96 across 40 matches.
Stuart Broad acting the clown against Australia at Lord's in 2023. Getty
Against Australia in England, Broad took 106 at 26.65.
Bizarrely it was at Lord's - dubbed the home of cricket - where he struggled against Australia.
In five matches at the famous ground he took only 17 wickets at 34.70.
Nonetheless, South Africa will be hoping Broad can impart some wisdom to fast bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen to gain a much-needed advantage over Australia.
The Aussies are yet to decide a team for the match, with the likes of Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, Scott Boland, and Josh Inglis all in danger of missing out from the 15-player squad.
