Seven is calling it “a cultural moment” – the now-ubiquitous clip of Stuart Broad’s pained reaction to England’s first-Test implosion in Perth, which has exploded across social feeds and become the unofficial first meme of the series.
Australia leads the Ashes 1–0 after crushing England inside two days at Optus Stadium, but it was the captured flash of disbelief from Broad – eyes shut, face pinched as Joe Root became the third dismissal in six balls – that cut through.
Stuart Broad accurately representing all England fans this morning 😅
Credit: 7Cricket pic.twitter.com/aZspYriEdf
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 22, 2025
Matthew Hayden summed it up in the moment on Channel 7 when he quipped: “Stay in the commentary box, you are taking wickets galore.”
The footage has been viewed more than 15 million times worldwide, including 14.3 million across Seven’s own platforms.
Broad himself admitted the moment was enormous.
“The Aussies are revelling in it because they hate me so much,” he said. “They’re really feeling the pain that I was feeling when Rooty chopped it on… We’d allowed ourselves to feel slightly comfortable… and Australia did what Australia did.”
Seven’s head of sport digital, Kirsty Bradmore, said the clip didn’t just capture the drama of the Test but detonated into something bigger.
“Stuart Broad’s raw emotion in that behind-the-scenes clip struck a chord with fans on both sides and the numbers tell the story of its impact,” she said. “His reaction became the defining image of the Test and Seven was at the centre of it, delivering the kind of raw, real content that makes our coverage unmissable.”
Bradmore added that moments like this reinforce why Ashes cricket still grips audiences.
“It’s not just about the score. It’s about the emotion, the drama and the personalities that make The Ashes unforgettable, and Seven’s commentary team are the absolute best in class at delivering that emotion to viewers across the nation.”