The Ashes is still five months away, but Stuart Broad has already started firing bullets with the former English seamer raising concerns about Australia’s top-order. Broad, who retired with 604 Test wickets and had some memorable battles with Australia, has described their current batting line-up as the most muddled he has seen in his lifetime.
Australia, which is currently playing a three-match Test series in West Indies, has already won the Frank Worrell Trophy with a match to go. But right through the two Tests which they have won, their batting was found wanting with the Windies quicks troubling them in particular with the new ball.
In the 40 Ashes Test that Broad featured in, he mostly bowled to a formidable top three which ranged from Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting to David Warner, Shane Watson and Steve Smith. But currently Australia’s top three is made of 38-year-old Usman Khawaja, the teenage Sam Konstas and Cameron Green who is averaging 16.66 in six innings at No 3.
“I’m not out of place in thinking it’s the most muddled top three in my lifetime. I’ve grown up with Hayden, Langer and Ponting,” Broad said on The Grade Cricketer. “But I think Usman is struggling. Cameron Green at three… he’s a six, isn’t he? Or a five. Anyone who used to take off stump guard would really excite me as an opening bowler because they play at fifth stump and don’t know where their off stump is,” Broad added.
Marnus Labuschagne, who was holding the No 3 position, was dropped after the World Test Championship final. With Green yet to cement his spot at the position, Broad reckoned Labushagne should take the spot by the time Ashes begins. “Ultimately with Labuschagne, I know he’s struggled for a couple of years, but he’s a good player. So I’d be surprised if he doesn’t come back into the frame at some stage. Konstas is young and learning his way, those pitches in the Caribbean have been quite tricky so I imagine he’ll get a run (in the Ashes).
“I watched him net before the World Test Championship at Lord’s and even though he didn’t play, the crunch off the bat that you hear (was impressive), but he’s got a couple of low scores and you start to question yourself a little bit. But I think he (Konstas) is there to stay,” Broad added.
