Follow UsAustralia’s batting is currently in a transition, with the inclusion of Sam Konstas as an opener and Cameron Green at that No.3 role. The transition has come at the cost of Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped after 58 Tests, where his average went from 60 to under 50.
Across the last two years, those numbers have seen a nosedive, as the right-hander averages 16.16 in 2025 and 30.93 in 2024. His last century too came in 2023, when he scored 111 against England in Manchester.
Whilst Cummins has publicly backed Green at that specialist position, former England pacer Stuart Broad backed Labuschagne to return to that No.3 role by the start of the Ashes.
“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. 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),” Broad said on The Grade Cricketer show.
“I watched him net 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,” Broad added.
Not just that, Broad also called Australia’s current top three the ‘most muddled’ unit in his lifetime.
“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.
Broad also took a dig at Green, calling him a No.6, adding that he’s someone who ‘doesn’t know where his off-stump is’.
“But I think Usman is struggling. Cameron Green at three… he’s a six, isn’t 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’t know where their off stump is,” Broad added.