Warner mulling ways to combat Broad: Smith

Steve Smith says David Warner has acknowledged the impact of Stuart Broad on his mindset through this current Ashes series, after the Englishman dismissed him for a sixth time in eight innings.

Warner registered his third successive duck – and his first pair in Test cricket – on Saturday at Old Trafford when Broad trapped him lbw in Australia's second innings.

After play, Smith revealed he had spoken with Warner regarding Broad's current stranglehold.

"We've talked, a few different things here and there," Smith said. "It's just trying to form a plan to get through Broad.

"He's admitted himself Broad's had the wood on him throughout this series and he's been talking to myself and Justin (Langer) and (batting coach) Graeme Hick.

"I think about ways he can play. He's tried a couple different ways and they haven't quite worked.

"But Davey's a quality player and he hasn't had a great deal of luck this series, hopefully he can turn it around and get a big one for us (in the fifth Test) at The Oval."

Although the tourists have one hand on the Ashes urn after reducing the hosts to 2-18 – a deficit of 365 runs going into the final day – the form of Warner and fellow opener Marcus Harris is a concern going into the fifth Test at The Oval starting on Thursday.

Warner's second-ball departure to a fired-up Broad continued his well below-par series that's seen him now chalk up seven single-digit scores.

Harris scored 13 and six at Old Trafford having registered eight and 19 at Headingley after replacing the equally out-of-form Cameron Bancroft, who averaged 11 from the opening two Tests.

Warner has never been left out of the side for form reasons since his debut in 2011 but is currently suffering the worst run with the bat in his 71-match Test career.

The 32-year-old's woes against Broad mirror the struggles Moeen Ali endured against Nathan Lyon during the 2017-18 Ashes series.

Lyon became the first bowler to remove the same batsman seven times in nine innings in a series, a feat Broad will emulate if he dismisses Warner when Australia bat first at The Oval.

Australia's opening partnerships in eight innings of the series have produced just 62 runs – usurping the previous lowest of 66 registered in 1909.

Smith said he sympathised with the struggles of the openers despite him needing to constantly bail his team out of trouble when he comes into bat at No.4.

"It's been tough with the new ball for both sides," Smith said.

"The ball's probably done its most when it's new. When it gets a little bit softer it doesn't do quite as much, it gets a little bit easier.

"They've bowled pretty well with the new ball. They're particularly good bowlers to left-handed batters, both Broad and (Jofra) Archer.

"It's not been easy for Davey and Marcus but they're trying their hardest."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval