Sacked AFL coach makes bizarre appearance inside Australia’s Ashes camp

Just days after a scandal that rocked the AFL, a football figure has been spotted inside the Aussie Ashes team’s inner sanctum.

Sacked former Suns coach Stuart Dew has made a bizarre, unexplained move to join the Australian Ashes squad ahead of the Fourth Test.

Just seven days after the Gold Coast coach’s brutal axing, following weeks of rumours, the football mentor appears to have been invited inside the inner sanctum of the Aussie squad two days before the blockbuster series continues at Old Trafford in Manchester.

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Australian journalists spotted Dew walking with Aussie players and members of the coaching staff during a day of training at the famous cricket venue. He was wearing full official Australian team gear.

Dew is yet to speak publicly about his dismissal from the Suns with the football club being widely criticised for its shambolic handling of the messy situation.

The good news is his unemployment appears to have lasted just a number of days.

A week after being sacked as Gold Coast coach, Stuart Dew is at Old Trafford with the Australian cricket team.https://t.co/oNpAxuVc6hpic.twitter.com/oAFzULq2R0

— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) July 17, 2023

An unexpected addition to the Australian team in Manchester - former Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew #Ashespic.twitter.com/ooqTJhzYUB

— Josh Schönafinger (@joshschon) July 17, 2023

A cynical view would be that Dew may be there to console any Aussie players about to have the axe come down on them with his recent first-hand experience, but it appears increasingly likely those counselling services won’t be needed for David Warner.

The struggling opener’s position in the Aussie XI has been the biggest selection talking point out of the Aussie dressing room since England’s Third Test victory.

With all rounder Cameron Green declaring himself fit and ready to go — and Mitchell Marsh making himself impossible to drop with a Test ton in Leeds — the only potential hole is Warner’s spot at the top of the order.

His wretched run against Stuart Broad continued as the English quick collected him on both occasions, making it 17 times in Test cricket he’s claimed his wicket.

Australian selectors are faced with a daunting task of whether or not to drop Warner, a move that would all but bring an end to his Test career.

Footage from England posted by Cricbuzz journalist Bharat Sundaresan showed the embattled opener in the nets alongside Usman Khawaja and potential replacement Marcus Harris.

All three were the only Australian batsmen to face new ball conditions in the nets, further fuelling speculation of Warner’s future.

Interesting that David Warner, Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja were the only batters to face the new ball three days out from the fourth Test. Should seem likely that they stick with the Warner-Khawaja combination on top #Ashespic.twitter.com/qau8aBnY3e

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 16, 2023

The video seems to rule out the possibility of Australia thrusting Mitchell Marsh into the opening role alongside Khawaja.

Green was touted as a potential man to take the top of the order spot, but his return to the team will more likely than not come in the middle order.

Harris said attempting to put a middle order batsman into an opening role would only have a detrimental effect.

“I think it depends on the conditions and where you are,” Harris said.

“Like you saw in the subcontinent, it is probably the best time so to have someone destructive like Heady, he can open the batting there.

“But I think probably in England and Australia, the way the wickets have been the last couple of years and New Zealand, those sort of wickets, it’s more of a specialist position.

“And you want your destructive players like Greeny or Mitch or Travis to be coming in against a bit more of an older ball.”

The Fourth Ashes Test gets underway at Old Trafford on July 19 at 8pm AEST.