'How many Test matches did Starcy play away from home during Covid?' - Stuart Broad hits back at Starc following 'Quarantine' jibe

Australia's much anticipated Ashes tour of England is still a few weeks away, but the war of words between the players from both camps has got the fans licking their fingers. Veteran English pacer Stuart Broad took a jibe at Australian pacer Mitchell Starc after the latter's comments on England's relatively lenient restrictions during the pandemic.

Earlier this week, star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc refuted Stuart Broad's claims of harsh playing conditions during the pandemic, revealing that England had one of the more lenient restrictions for their players during the Covid-19 outbreak. The left-arm pacer refused to believe that the English pacers faced much hardship as they weren't confined to their hotel rooms, unlike in other places. Starc's comments came in the wake of Broad's remark of a 'void' Ashes series due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Following Starc's comments, which were posted on The Barmy Army's social media handles, English pacer Stuart Broad penned a strong-worded reply for his Aussie counterpart. Broad highlighted the Australian pacer's outings for the national team during the pandemic, all of which came on his home soil.

“How many Test matches did Starcy play away from home during Covid? Trying to do the maths on it. Zero wasn’t it?” Broad said in a reply to The Barmy Army's post.

The Australian team battered the Three Lions in a one-sided Ashes series on their home soil last time around, claiming the urn after a 4-0 victory. However, they will be up for a stiff battle against a revitalised English side in their home conditions after the WTC final against India next month. 

Meanwhile, England will square off against Ireland in a one-off Test at the Lord's in a few days' time to kick off their English summer.