David Warner's admission about Stuart Broad amid calls for Ashes axing
The Aussie batter is in a bullish mood despite being dismissed 17 times by his England nemesis.
David Warner admits he's been playing Barmy Army chants about Stuart Broad but insists his England nemesis has not gotten into his head ahead of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, starting on Wednesday. Warner has been out to Broad a staggering 17 times, but has retained his place in the Aussie XI, despite facing mounting pressure to hold his spot.
The Aussies have opted to go without a frontline spinner in a Test for the first time in 11 years after dropping Todd Murphy from their third Test. Centurion Mitch Marsh keeps his place and will team up with fellow all-rounder Cam Green - recalled after being rested at Headingley - while Josh Hazlewood comes back into the side at the expense of fellow quick Scott Boland.
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However, it's Warner's spot at the top of the Aussie batting order that has raised most eyebrows, with the opener unable to snap the hoodoo that Broad holds over him, despite some promising signs earlier in the series. Warner fell cheaply in both innings to Broad at Headingley, taking his series average to a meagre 23.5 runs.
Warner's 17 Test dismissals against Broad include those two at Headingley that came in just seven balls. The Aussie opener has not faced sledging out in the middle from England, but Broad's father copped a reprimand after sharing a Simpson's meme poking fun at the number of times his son has gotten the Aussie out.
The veteran Aussie batter said on a podcast this week that he's been playing Barmy Army chants over and over in his mind while facing up to bat. One of those is the chant "Broady is gonna get you", which Warner has heard on repeat throughout the series.
Despite that, the 36-year-old insists his awful record against the veteran England fast bowler, is not weighing heavily on him. "I don't really think about the match-up," Warner said on the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast.
David Warner insists Stuart Broad is not in his head
"You think about the ball that's coming at you, how you are going to score. He bowls in a great area all the time. I always love facing Broady. We have two left-handed opening batters and he is one of, if not the best bowler to left-handers in today's game. He is so good at it.
"Jimmy (Anderson) is there as well. These are guys we have watched and played against for a long time." A bullish Warner is convinced he's still in good touch ahead of the fourth Test, arguing Broad simply beat him with two good balls at Headingley.
The left-hander began the tour with a fighting 43 against India in the World Test Championship final, and hit 66 in the second Ashes Test at Lords. Australia can also point to the fact Warner and opening partner Usman Khawaja have made three half-century opening stands to help set up their 2-1 series lead.
"I feel like I am in great touch," Warner added. "I have felt good in the nets, leading in I had good sessions against our quicks at Beckenham (before the series).
"Lord's was probably the best I've batted in the last two years. Just holding my line. We have batted in probably the toughest conditions so far. In Leeds I got two good balls.
"You can't do too much about that ... You just have to take it on the chin, can't do anything about it."
With Warner's opening spot confirmed, Australia's new-look order will see Marsh bat at No.6, with Green coming in at No.7 and wicketkeeper Alex Carey at No.8. Hazlewood is back into the bowling attack at the expense of Boland after he was rested for the third Test.
The decision to leave out Murphy is the biggest, with Australia pushing for a victory that will secure their first Ashes series win in England since 2001. A draw in Manchester will see them retain the Ashes.
with AAP
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