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Aussies shocked as Broad brushed at Gabba

Rob ForsaithAAP
England left out quicks James Anderson (l) and Stuart Broad for the first Ashes Test.
Camera IconEngland left out quicks James Anderson (l) and Stuart Broad for the first Ashes Test. Credit: AP

The snubbing of veteran pacemen Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, coupled with an inability to back up Joe Root's call to bat first, has put England under the pump after just two sessions of this Ashes.

Anderson's omission was confirmed on Tuesday, when the visitors dismissed murmurs about the 39-year-old nursing a calf niggle on Test eve.

Root then swung a big surprise at the toss, revealing Broad had been overlooked in what proved a "very difficult decision".

It marked the first time England have played a Test without either Anderson or Broad, the most prolific new-ball pairing in the sport's history, since losing to Bangladesh in Dhaka five years ago.

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It is also the first Ashes Test without at least one of the iconic duo, boasting a combined 1156 Test wickets worth of experience, since 2006.

Australia, having rolled England for 147 before rain ended the day's play, didn't try to conceal their shock at the Gabba.

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"I thought one of those two would play in every game, if not both," captain Pat Cummins said.

"Surprised.

"But they've got plenty of other bowlers to step in."

The image of Anderson and Broad, who insisted last week he was ready to go after recovering from a calf injury, running drinks grated many of England's fans and former players.

Mitchell Starc quipped he was glad he didn't have to break the bad news to the legends, the only members of the current Test squad who were part of England's victorious 2010-11 group.

"If you asked anyone a couple of days ago, no one would believe you (they would both miss out)," Starc told the Seven Network.

"To take 300 Test matches and over 1000 wickets out of their side is interesting."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was "staggered" by the snubbing of Broad, while Fox Cricket pundit Mark Waugh termed it a "huge gamble".

Express paceman Mark Wood, five-Test seamer Ollie Robinson, right-armer Chris Woakes and gun allrounder Ben Stokes will perform fast-bowling duties this week.

Ollie Pope explained that Wood's pace, Robinson's impressive debut home summer and Woakes' batting resulted in Broad missing out.

"That's our reasons behind it. But yeah, obviously it's a bit above my pay grade," Pope said.

The gamble will be judged as a masterstroke or madness, depending on how this Test unfolds.

The bulk of Broad's momentum-shifting Ashes spells have come at home but he still boasts 34 wickets at 37.2 from 12 Tests in Australia.

Broad admitted to contemplating retirement in 2020, after being sensationally axed, then bounced back from that demotion.

"I've been frustrated, angry, gutted - because it's quite a hard decision to understand," Broad noted at the time.

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