WI vs AUS 2025: 'Most muddled top three in my lifetime' - Stuart Broad reflects on Australia's top-order

England legendary pacer Stuart Broad labeled the current Australian top-order as the most muddled he has seen in his lifetime. Australia are fielding a new-look at the top three featuring Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, and Cameron Green, after the retirement of David Warner in 2023 and poor form of Marnus Labuschagne made them go with this new trio.

Broad, who has played 40 Ashes Tests and bowled to Australian greats such as Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, and Ricky Ponting, expressed concern over instability in Australia’s current Test top-order.

“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 podcast.

“But I think Usman is struggling. Cameron Green at three… he’s a (number) six, isn’t he? Or a (number) 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. 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,” he added.

Former England cricketer expressed confidence in the 19-year-old Konstas, who has averaged just 18.25 in the four Tests he has played so far. The youngster has been struggling since then, despite his enthusiastic debut in the Boxing Day Test against India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“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).” said Broad.

“I watched him in the nets 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," he added.

Broad emphasised the importance of the Australian top-order struggling to play the new ball, protecting the middle-order Steve Smith and Travis Head to play their natural game. He pointed out once Smith settles in at the crease it can be extremely dangerous for the opposition.

“They need to find a way to protect Smith and Head at four and five who are unbelievable and Carey is playing great at seven. You can’t have Steve Smith in so early every game. One of Australia’s greatest strengths is when ‘Smudger’ arrives with a 35-over old ball and it’s doing nothing, so they need to find a way to do that,” Broad concluded.

The World Test Championship 2025 runners-up will have another tight contest, as they gear up for the pink-ball Test against West Indies in Kingston starting on July 12. The visitors have already sealed the three-match series 2-0.