The veteran of 40 Ashes Tests, who grew up watching Australia\u2019s golden era of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting dominate the world, and bowled extensively to solid trios such as David Warner, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson, and later Warner, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne at their peaks, said the contrast in quality and clarity is now stark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m not out of place in thinking it\u2019s the most muddled top three in my lifetime. I\u2019ve grown up with Hayden, Langer and Ponting,\u201d Broad said on The Grade Cricketer podcast while analysing Australia\u2019s top-three struggles during their current tour of the West Indies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Currently, Australia are fielding a top order comprising 38-year-old Usman Khawaja, teenager Sam Konstas \u2014 who averages 18.25 in Tests \u2014 and all-rounder Cameron Green at No. 3, where he averages just 16.66. Broad questioned the suitability of Green at first drop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cCameron Green at three\u2026 he\u2019s a six, isn\u2019t 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\u2019t know where their off stump is,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite Green\u2019s struggle to adapt at No. 3, Broad was more sympathetic toward Konstas, who made his debut during the Boxing Day Test. While the teenager hasn\u2019t yet impressed statistically, he believes in his long-term potential.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKonstas is young and learning his way, those pitches in the Caribbean have been quite tricky, so I imagine he\u2019ll get a run (in the Ashes). I watched him net before the World Test Championship at Lord\u2019s and even though he didn\u2019t play, the crunch off the bat that you hear was impressive, but he\u2019s got a couple of low scores and you start to question yourself a little bit. But I think he (Konstas) is there to stay,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As for Labuschagne, who has been omitted from the starting XI of late, Broad believes his pedigree will eventually bring him back into the fold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cUltimately with Labuschagne, I know he\u2019s struggled for a couple of years, but he\u2019s a good player. So I\u2019d be surprised if he doesn\u2019t come back into the frame at some stage.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking ahead to the Ashes, Broad stressed that Australia needs a settled and functional top order that can protect their powerhouse middle-order featuring Steve Smith and Travis Head.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cUltimately with Labuschagne, I know he\u2019s struggled for a couple of years, but he\u2019s a good player. So I\u2019d be surprised if he doesn\u2019t come back into the frame at some stage.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t have Steve Smith in so early every game. One of Australia\u2019s greatest strengths is when \u2018Smudger\u2019 arrives with a 35-over old ball and it\u2019s doing nothing \u2026 so they need to find a way to do that,\" he concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n