Australia believe they have got the measure of England’s Jonathan Trott whose Ashes struggles showed no signs of abating on Saturday.
England’s number three batsman Trott was a disappointment in the year’s first Ashes, averaging under 30 during the team’s 3-0 triumph at home.
The lean patch continued on Saturday as Mitchell Johnson bounced him out for the second time in the Brisbane Ashes opener after Trott’s fluffed flick found Nathan Lyon at deep square leg.
Australian opening batsman David Warner, who made a brisk 124 on Saturday, was quick to rub salt into the 32-year-old batsman’s wounds.
‘Pretty poor & weak’
“The way that Trotty got out today was pretty poor and weak. Obviously there’s a weakness there and we’re on top of it at the moment,” Warner told reporters.
“He’s probably worked hard in the nets on the short ball, but trying to face 150 kph short ball from Mitch Johnson the way to go is probably not trying to back away,” was Warner’s advise to the player who has played 26 more tests than the Australian southpaw.
“I think he’s got to get new sledges as well because it’s not working for him at the moment,” added Warner.
{{/usCountry}}“I think he’s got to get new sledges as well because it’s not working for him at the moment,” added Warner.
{{/usCountry}}Trott, who has scored 10 and nine in the match, had a narrow escape against Johnson earlier on Saturday when his top-edged pull landed safely between two fielders, underlining his discomfort against the bounce.
He looked at sea against the left-arm paceman in the first innings as well.
Team mate James Anderson threw his weight behind Trott, saying, “A guy like that doesn’t average 50 in Test cricket because he can’t play the short ball.”