England Ashes stars Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson resort to asking an artificial intelligence bot how to get Steve Smith out – with hilarious results
- Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson fear Steve Smith
- English quickly desperate to win Ashes on home soil
- Used an AI bot to find answers prior to the first test
- The series officially kicks off in Edgbaston on June 16
England stars Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson know Steve Smith will be a crucial cog in Australia’s campaign to retain the Ashes this year – and the speedy veterans are prepared to go to great lengths to find a way to keep his to take the wicket.
In a video promotion for Sky SportsBroad and Anderson recently turned to an artificial intelligence (AI) bot for possible ways to walk ‘Smudge’ back to the dressing rooms in record time.
The AI started by saying what many England fans and players already know: ‘Getting Steve Smith out can be a challenge’.
Advice from the bot to get Smith out of his game included using short pitch bowling, strategic field placements, and varied attack.
Both champion pace bowlers initially played along, with Broad declaring on camera that ‘knowledge is power’.
England’s Stuart Broad knows better than anyone how dangerous Steve Smith can be for Australia during an Ashes series
Brede and fellow veteran speedy Jimmy Anderson (left) will be key players for England at the Ashes series in just over a month
When the bot stated that Smith is a “world-class batsman who is hard to get out,” the 36-year-old kept his composure before saying, “Yeah, I know.”
And when the bot told Anderson to “vary” his bowling – but also “keep his consistency,” he could be heard sarcastically saying, “Come on!”
Banter aside, with over 1000 Test wickets between them, Broad and Anderson will be crucial figures for the hosts.
But both men fear Smith as his record against England is impressive, averaging just under 60 with 11 hundreds in 32 games.
In the UK, Smith has an impressive average of 65 – and up the last Ashes staged in England in 2019, he plundered 744 runs in his seven innings, including three tons and a double century.
But there is reason for optimism.
‘Bazball’ under coach Brendon McCullum has produced 10 wins in 12 Tests for England, with Broad labeling cricket’s attacking form as a ‘breath of the breath’.
“I’ve been so lucky to have been through so much in my career, but for fun and laughter and showing up, not knowing what each day will bring… yet it’s incredible to have freshness in it,” he said.
At the last Ashes held in England in 2019, Steve Smith pillaged 744 runs in his seven innings, including three hundred and a double century
Already in England for the Ashes, Smith will play for Sussex in an attempt to refine his technique against the moving Dukes ball
“I think the greatest compliment I can give is that part of me wishes I was 23 again. Part of me wishes I could learn my craft in this environment.
“I learned under Andy Flower, who made me a pretty tough cricketer and a strong character. He let me perform under pressure.
“But imagine you are [young gun batsman] Harry Brook now and come in with that freedom and support?
“Since Baz took over, part of my unofficial role has been to get the public going.
“I thrive in it, it puts me to work. The guys sometimes come up to me and say ‘do you think it’s time to get the crowd going?’ and I say ‘keep going’.
Broad also stated that the last England 4-0 horror show on Australian soil ‘wasn’t a proper Ashes series’.
“In my mind, I don’t class that as a true Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is top sport with a lot of passion and players at the top of their game,” he said.
“Nothing about that series was a high level performance due to the Covid restrictions. The training facilities, the traveling, not being able to socialize. I wrote it off as a void string.”
The Ashes will begin the first test at Edgbaston on June 16.