Warner’s test place in jeopardy
David Warner’s struggles against Stuart Broad have the Australian opener facing the prospect of being dropped for the first time in his test career.
Steve Smith revealed the combative opener has acknowledged Broad has got into his head after being dismissed six times by the English veteran in eight innings and has been working with his struggling team-mate on ways to try to combat the veteran quick.
‘‘We’ve talked, a few different things here and there,’’ Smith said. ‘‘It’s just trying to form a plan to get through Broad.
‘‘He’s admitted himself Broad’s had the wood on him throughout this series and he’s been talking to myself and Justin [Langer[ and [batting coach] Graeme Hick.
‘‘I think about ways he can play. He’s tried a couple different ways and they haven’t quite worked.
‘‘But Davey’s a quality player and he hasn’t had a great deal of luck this series, hopefully he can
turn it around and get a big one for us at The Oval.’’
Warner registered his third successive duck yesterday at Old Trafford when Broad trapped him lbw in Australia’s second innings of 186-6 declared.
Although the tourists have one hand on the Ashes urn after reducing the hosts to 18-2 – a deficit of 365 runs going into the final day – the form of Warner and fellow opener Marcus Harris is a concern going into the fifth test at The Oval starting on Thursday.
Warner’s second-ball departure to a fired-up Broad continued his wretched series that’s seen him now chalk up seven single digit scores.
Harris scored 13 and six at Old Trafford having registered eight and 19 at Headingley after replacing the equally out-of-form Cameron Bancroft, who averaged 11 from the opening two tests.
Warner, 32, has never been left out of the side for form reasons since his debut in 2011, but is currently suffering the worst run with the bat in his
71-match test career. Australia’s opening partnerships in eight innings of the series have produced just 62 runs – usurping the previous lowest of
66 registered in 1909.
Smith said he sympathised with the struggles of the openers despite him needing to constantly bail his team out of trouble when he comes into bat at No 4.
‘‘It’s been tough with the new ball for both sides,’’ Smith said.
‘‘The ball’s probably done its most when it’s new. When it gets a little bit softer it doesn’t do quite as much, it gets a little bit easier.
‘‘They’ve bowled pretty well with the new ball. They’re particularly good bowlers to lefthanded batters, both Broad and [Jofra] Archer.
‘‘It’s not been easy for Davey and Marcus but they’re trying their hardest.’’
– AAP