Ashes 2017-18: Jonny Bairstow hits back at Stuart Broad critics and says seamer’s partnership with James Anderson is greatest ever
England wicketkeeper claims it is 'harsh' to single out Broad for recent displays as he has registered 900 wickets with Anderson
JONNY BAIRSTOW says people need to get off Stuart Broad’s back.
England’s wicketkeeper leapt to Broad’s defence after the bowler came under fire over his worst Test performance.
Ex-captain Michael Vaughan was among those who said England should consider dropping Broad for the Test tour of New Zealand in March and April.
Broad, 31, returned nightmare figures of 0-142 as England surrendered The Ashes losing by an innings and 41 runs in the Third Test in Perth.
But Bairstow, 28, has the best view of Broad and James Anderson from behind the stumps.
And he said: “Naturally, people will pick things apart when the team is not going well — but you have to remember those two guys are the most successful seam bowling partnership that’s ever played the game.
“So you can say whatever you wish, but those guys have serious skills. Not just in England but all around the world.
“You don’t take more than 900 Test wickets between you without having those skills.
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“To pick apart the bowling of someone who has played more than 100 Test matches after one or two games is pretty harsh.
“People would do a lot better if they got behind the team.”
Broad declared himself fit to play his 113th Test at the MCG on Boxing Day despite having some fluid drained off his troublesome left knee last week.
But Vaughan wrote in his newspaper column: “If Stuart really does have a dodgy left knee, then do not play him.
“Go into Melbourne without him or be brave enough not to pick him for the New Zealand tour if Joe Root believes he is not bowling well enough.
“Stuart has not bowled well all year.
“Taking 25 wickets at nearly 40 is not good enough for Broad, particularly given some of the wickets he has bowled on.
"He has not bowled in Australia to the standard he would have liked so maybe the call is to leave him out for a while.”
Broad is believed to be upset with the criticism — especially as Vaughan works for the management company that looks after the Notts seamer.
Having already lost The Ashes, England see the final two Tests as a two-match mini-series.
Yorkshireman Bairstow added: “You can talk as much as you want about the whitewash, but, in our minds, it’s not on the agenda.
“Without a doubt, in our eyes it is now a two-Test series. That’s exactly how we’ve got to look at it — go out and try to win both Test matches.
“Let’s start with a clean slate and try to put things right. It may free up some of the lads.
“Everyone wants to play a Boxing Day Test at the MCG — it’s one of those iconic cricket occasions.”
Aussie fast bowler Pat Cummins says the home side will continue to pepper England’s tail-enders with bouncers.
Mike Atherton is among those who believe the umpires should step in and protect the batting rabbits.
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But Cummins said: “Plan A for us is always to get the batsmen out for the fewest runs.
"That’s the way we’re doing it and it won’t change.
“They’re all pretty competent batters. Stuart Broad has a Test hundred and Anderson’s got an 80-odd.
“We know we’re going to cop as much short stuff back as we dish out.”
LIKELY LINE-UPS — AUSTRALIA: Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith (capt), S Marsh, M Marsh, Paine (wkt), Cummins, Bird, Hazlewood, Lyon.
ENGLAND: Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root (capt), Malan, Bairstow (wkt), Moeen, Woakes, Curran, Broad, Anderson.