Australia’s prolific record in day-night Tests has prompted the great Ashes villain to issue a selection warning to his own country.
Stuart Broad, who provoked Australia in 40 Tests, has put timeline pressure on England’s first choice quicks to be fit for the Ashes opener in Perth.
England waited until the third Test of its series with India to deploy Jofra Archer while speedster Mark Wood missed the all five matches through injury.
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With Australia’s undefeated record with the pink ball, Broad fears the English could slump to a 0-2 start to the Ashes if they don’t “front load” the first Test.
“There’s no point going there with the mindset, ‘Oh keep someone fit for Melbourne’, you have to go and get a result at Perth first,” Broad said on For The Love Of The Game.
“You have to get a draw or a win, preferably a win, (because) I think it’s very difficult to beat the Aussies in the pink ball game which is Test match two at the Gabba.
“I think (Australia) win (the Gabba Test) so you have to go and win the first Test, go all out with your best attack which is (Mark) Wood, (Jofra) Archer, (Gus) Atkinson, (Shoaib) Bashir, (Ben) Stokes.
“Then I would definitely play Josh Tongue in the pink ball game because he bowls that fuller length you can’t necessarily see that well with the ball under lights.
“I would go with that attack … get Mark Wood fit because there is a little bit of doubt about how the Aussies cope with extreme pace.”
Broad extended his “little bit of doubt” over the Aussies’ ability against extreme pace, suggesting not even chief selector George Bailey knows the makeup of the top order.
“I don’t think anyone in the world knows, not even the selectors of Australia,” he said.
“You know Steve Smith will be four, Travis Head will be five, probably up there with Joe Root and Harry Brook as the best four and five in world cricket.
“The No.6 is up for debate, I would probably have Cam Green there and not at three, put Marnus Labuschagne back at three.
“Then you’ve got a shootout for the opening spots; Khawaja looks like he’ll keep it although he looks past his best.
“I am really excited for the series but I genuinely don’t think anyone could pen down Australia’s top three right now, including George Bailey.”
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