Mitchell Johnson: “I’m not sure if Stuart Broad is up to it at the moment”

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Former Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson has questioned what the future holds for England pace bowler Stuart Broad and opener Alastair Cook.

Both Broad and Cook have struggled to have an impact in the ongoing Ashes series, which Australia have already won.

Broad has only taken five wickets at an average of 61.80, while Cook has scored 83 runs at an average of 13.83. In addition to this, he also recorded his worst figures in the longest format in the third Test at the WACA.

“Going to the next Test I think England will have to think about changes,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure if Stuart Broad is up to it at the moment. There will be some question marks around him, [as] a senior player.

“Alastair Cook is someone who I think has been thinking about retirement. I just wonder now with the scoreline being 3-0 whether that will take a bit of pressure off him and he’ll just go out there and score runs. I’m not sure.

“I think the scars are there from the last series.”

With England 3-0 down and on track to be whitewashed, Johnson called on the selectors to pick pace bowler Mark Wood for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

“I look forward to him playing if he gets the opportunity, they should pick him even if he’s slightly underdone,” Johnson said. “From a pace point of view, someone bowling over 87-91mph can definitely change the game.”