Sporting Advent Calendar #11: Stuart Broad skittles the Aussies with staggering spell at Trent Bridge

The touring Australians arrived in England ahead of the 2015 Ashes convinced they would live up to their billing as favourites and inflict more misery on Alistair Cook's side following the ruthless 5-0 whitewash of 2013/14.

Indeed, the Aussies were so cocksure Steve Smith - then ranked the world’s best batsman - believed another rout was on its way, proclaiming: “I don’t think they’ll come close to us to be honest.”

Famous last words, mate.

By the time the fourth Test at Trent Bridge had arrived England were leading the series 2-1. An opening win in Cardiff was followed by a thumping Australian victory on a lifeless pitch at Lords’ before England wrestled the initiative back with an eight wicket victory at Edgbaston.

The tone had been set for a series of good pace bowling tempered by woeful batting and England would head into the Nottingham Test without their prize weapon, Jimmy Anderson.

But in all the fretting over Anderson’s fitness everybody seemed to forget about his great partner in crime, Stuart Broad.

Cook won the toss on the first morning at Trent Bridge and with a ripe Dukes cherry in his hand and a green-tinged pitch before him Broad set about dismantling the hapless tourists on his home county ground.

It began in the opening over, with Chris Rogers straightened up and nibbling to Cook at first slip, before the big one came 3 balls later - Smith edging to Joe Root at third.

At the other end, Mark Wood snaffled Dave Warner and now England were on an unstoppable roll.

Broad did for Mitchell Marsh in the third over before one of the moments of the summer came in the fifth as he drew Adam Voges into a thick edge and Ben Stokes took a logic-defying one handed catch at fifth slip.

By this point it had become a procession. Steve Finn joined the party by removing Peter Nevill but this was Broad’s morning, as he picked up his 300th Test scalp on his way to staggering figures of 8-15.

England reached stumps at 274/4 in response to Australia’s 60. The Aussies were broken. The Ashes were on their way home.