Michael Di Venuto confidence in Australia’s batting order despite troubling run, responds to Stuart Broad and Ian Healy criticism
The world Test batting rankings have exposed a scary reality for Australia but their batting coach Michael Di Venuto has hit out at criticism of the top order.
A 2-0 lead in Australia’s Test series against the West Indies has not been enough to dismiss concerns about the batting unit leading into the Ashes.
Retired English bowler Stuart Broad took aim at Australia’s “muddled” top order and called for the nation to better protect Steve Smith.
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“I’m not out of place in thinking it’s the most muddled top three in my lifetime,” Broad told the Grade Cricketer podcast.
“I’ve grown up with [Justin] Langer, [Matt] Hayden, [Ricky] Ponting, [David] Warner, [Shane] Watson, and [Marnus] Labuschange in his first few years was a gun.
“I think Usman [Khawaja] is struggling. Cameron Green at three? He’s a five or six isn’t he? He’s pushing too hard [at the ball].
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja of Australia. Getty
“Ultimately with Labuschange, I know he’s struggled for a couple of years but he is a good player. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t come back into the frame at some stage.
“(Sam) Konstas is just young, learning his way. Those pitches in the Caribbean have been tricky. I imagine he’ll get a run [in the Ashes].
“I saw him (bat in the) net at Lord’s in the World Test Championship when he didn’t play… you get a few low scores and you start to question yourself. I think he’s there to stay.
“One of Australia’s greatest strengths is when Smudge (Smith) arrives with a 35-over old ball and it’s doing nothing… They need to find a way to protect Smith and Head at four and five who are unbelievable.”
With the first Ashes Test set to begin in November, Broad admits he does not see Australian selectors keeping the same top three formation from the Caribbean series.
Khawaja and Konstas have opened the batting, and Australia is trying to turn Green into a first drop.
“The Aussie selectors get it right, generally… [but] they can’t be watching from the Caribbean at the minute going ‘yeah, our top three is amazing’,” he said.
Broad’s comments were dismissed by the team’s batting coach Di Venuto, who laughed: “Stuart Broad? Is he a selector?”, when they were put to him this week.
Sam Konstas speaks with batting coach Michael Di Venuto. Getty
However, despite his own confidence in his players, Di Venuto did concede that the top order has not reached its potential in recent years.
“We don’t hide behind the fact that we haven’t functioned as a unit for the last couple of years,” Di Venuto said.
“Take out the Sri Lanka series where we were outstanding in spinning conditions, it’s been really hard work. We’ve relied on individual brilliance to get us totals.
“Batting averages have come down and so too the bowling averages. That’s just the way it is.
“I think there is a lot of [Sheffield] Shield cricket leading into that first Ashes Test. Guys in form I dare say will get picked.
“At the moment, there’s no point sitting down and trying to nut something out when you’re three months away.”
Following the World Test Championship final, Ian Healy said he believed Australia’s batting had “regressed in performance at Test level” since Di Venuto joined the coaching team.
Di Venuto admitted he was disappointed to hear it.
Australian cricket legend Ian Healy. Getty
“I can’t really control that,” he said before revealing he had not spoken to Healy.
“If he’s so worried about it, he can call me. There’s no issues there. We’re comfortable with where we’re at.
“It’s hard work domestic cricket … [and] now in Test cricket. I think gone are the days in the era that I played in where they’re flat wickets.
“The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets. Conditions have changed, balls have changed. We’ve got to be patient with these guys.”
Di Venuto cited Steve Waugh as an example of how patience with a batter can ultimately lead to success.
“Steve Waugh, one of our greats, took 27 Tests before he got a hundred. We’ve just got to be careful how we judge some people,” Di Venuto said.
“Matthew Hayden is another one. (He is) someone who absolutely dominated domestic cricket for years … but it took him a few times to get the hang of Test cricket.”
England batsman Harry Brook. Getty
As it stands, the highest ranked Australian batter in the Test format is Smith, who is fifth overall, followed by Travis Head in 11th.
Australia previously had Smith and Labuschagne at No.1 at different times, while Head and Khawaja also sat in the top 10.
Now, English gun Harry Brook tops the world rankings after a sensational 158-run display in the first Innings of the second Test against India put him ahead of his teammate Joe Root.
The fact England batters are one-two in the standings spells trouble for Australia ahead of the Ashes.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal are the only two batters between Smith and the English duo.
Alex Carey and Khawaja are the only others Australian batters in the top 20.
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