Shane Warne unloads on ‘rubbish’ bowling by Stuart Broad in Perth Ashes Test

THE heat is on England’s pantomime villain Stuart Broad, with the paceman’s ‘rubbish’ bowling earning a stinging sledge from Shane Warne in Perth.

THE heat is on England’s pantomime villain Stuart Broad to lift in the third Ashes Test amid the paceman’s ongoing ineffectual series.

Broad largely failed to trouble Steve Smith on Friday’s second day at the WACA. Australia trail by 200 runs and will resume at 3-203.

Smith heaved a Broad bouncer for six in an unbeaten knock of 92.

Broad has captured five wickets in the series at 43.4. It’s been five years since the right-armer has finished a series with such a high average.

STUMPS: Ben Horne reviews the day two action from the WACA

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England bowler Stuart Broad had a tough day in Perth.

Shane Warne rubbished Broad’s bowling. Picture: Annette Dew

Australia are rightly respectful of somebody who has tormented them in plenty of Test series — most recently in 2015 when he snared 8-15 in an urn-earning rampage at Trent Bridge.

Broad and Jimmy Anderson require only two more wickets to become the most- prolific new-ball combination in Test history.

But Broad hardly fired a shot on day two of the third Test, especially in a final spell that failed to impress Shane Warne in the Nine Network commentary box.

“He is a lot faster than that. He needs to find another gear ... you can’t just roll up and bowl that rubbish,” Warne said after Smith stroked a loosener through the covers.

“It looks like a throwdown.

Umpire Marais Erasmus, right, talks to England's Stuart Broad after Broad threw the ball recklessly.

“He is better than that ... he needs to be better than that.

“He is a senior player. England needs a spark ... he has to produce something for his skipper and his team.” Warne added that Broad “hasn’t been at his best today”.

Anderson also went wicketless on day two of the contest, although pundits were gobsmacked that he didn’t bowl to Smith until the skipper was on 47 and seeing them like basketballs.

“It’s not my job. I don’t get paid for those decisions,” keeper Jonny Bairstow said.

Anderson and Broad could carry a bigger burden than usual during the Perth Test, with the visitors sweating on Craig Overton’s rib injury.

Overton trudged off the field in a great deal of discomfort on Friday after delivering his 10th over.

COMMENTATORS SING SMITH’S PRAISES

Meanwhile the commentators were full of praise for Australian skipper Steve Smith.

Steve Smith’s sheer batting brilliance should prompt cricket coaching manuals to be torn up, Test great Adam Gilchrist says.

Australian captain Smith is headed for his 22nd Test ton on Saturday when he resumes on 92 not out against England in the third Test in Perth. The knock continues Smith’s stunning first-innings record — he averages 79.44 compared to his second-innings average of 39.92.

Gilchrist says that statistic underlines why Smith’s unorthodox technique should be the new-age coaching model, rather than sticking with traditional methods. “It’s everything you don’t teach,” Gilchrist said of Smith’s style while commentating for BT Sport.

“But he has got Bradman-like numbers so why don’t we encourage it?”

Australian captain Steve Smith smiles as he scores more runs off Stuart Broad.

Ex-Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Smith “does things at a different level” to other batsmen.

“His basics just look slightly different than everyone else,” Ponting said on BT Sport.

“He plays the ball on its merit and it hits the middle of the bat.”

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, flanking Ponting in the commentary box, said Smith’s eagle eye was astonishing.

“The speed with which he picks up the ball from the bowler’s hand is something to be admired,” Pietersen said.

“The great players can pick gaps and he’s picking gaps ... he does the basics right and he’s sticking to his way. Smith is a great player.”

Smith is averaging 61.40 in Tests.

And if he completes another hundred on Saturday, he will have more tons than half-centuries (21) in his 59 Tests.

Originally published as Shane Warne unloads on ‘rubbish’ bowling by Stuart Broad in Perth Ashes Test