Langer backs Warner to respond after Broad blitz

Australia coach Justin Langer has backed in champion batter David Warner for the start of the home summer but hopes the veteran can return to his damaging best after a historically poor Ashes tour.

Warner managed just 95 runs in the 2-2 drawn campaign, the lowest return ever by an opener in a Test series with at least 10 innings.

The 32-year-old was out almost exclusively to England seamer Stuart Broad, who captured the Australian's wicket seven times in the series, each time from round the wicket.

Despite the forgetful series, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting considers Warner a lock for the first Test of the home summer against Pakistan in November.

And Langer says Warner, who has 21 Test hundreds and averages 60 in Australia, will be given time to bounce back in the Test team.

"I've learned over a long period you never write off champion players, it doesn't matter what sport, you never write off champion players," Langer said.

"They tend to come good, don't they? He's had a tough series, no doubt about that, but he's also a champion player so usually with champion players they get a bit more time to come good.

"This series, it didn't go to plan, but he's seen how successful he's been and the impact he can have on Australian cricket teams winning so I'm confident he'll come good. Actually, I'm hopeful he comes good."

One thing in Warner's favour moving forward is the fact he will not have to face Broad any time soon.

Broad trapped Warner lbw thrice, had him caught behind the wicket three times and bowled him once.

In Manchester, Broad dismissed Warner for his first pair in Test cricket, and twice – at Edgbaston and Old Trafford – the right-armer found the edge as the left-hander was looking to leave.

While Warner had never scored an Ashes century in England leading into this year's series, and still has not, he was coming in as Australia's in-form batter having blazed 647 runs at 71.88 in the World Cup and topping the run-scorers' charts in the Indian Premier League.

But Broad got inside Warner's head, says Langer, who shared a similar frustration with his struggling opener when he faced Sri Lanka spin wizard Muthiah Muralidaran during his playing days.

"Talking frankly, he let Stuart Broad get into his head and he thought way too much about it," Langer said.

"I've seen it before, even with the great players.

"I remember Gilly (Australia legend Adam Gilchrist) with Andrew Flintoff (in 2005).

"I remember seeing Steve Waugh sit on the team bus in South Africa and the guy had been a run machine for so long, he got out just before stumps and I, in a sick sort of way, thought it was the best thing I'd ever seen because I didn't think great players had lean runs.

"I used to have lean runs all the time, but even great players have lean runs and I'm sure David – we know he's a very good player, there's no question about that – but he had it tough, particularly against Stuart Broad.

"I used to have it against 'Murali' and I couldn't solve the issue and it's so hard when you try to problem solve and then you're in the middle of a big series trying to solve the puzzle.

"In this instance I don't think David solved the puzzle, and he'll be first to admit that.

"He'll probably be very relieved he gets on the Qantas flight in a day's time and doesn't have to face Stuart Broad for a while I reckon.

"But he is certainly, there's plenty of upside still to his batting."

Warner was not the only batter to have a lean series.

Opener Marcus Harris averaged 9.66 after coming in for the third Test for Cameron Bancroft, who was dropped after scoring 44 runs in four innings.

Long-time No.3 Usman Khawaja was also axed during the series for averaging 20.33 in three Tests, while vice-captain Travis Head, who averaged 27.28, made way for allrounder Mitchell Marsh at The Oval.

Langer says his side's batting, despite the record-breaking efforts of Steve Smith, ultimately cost Australia winning the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001.

"If we cut to the chase, I thought our bowling throughout this series was absolutely world-class," Langer said. "The (fast) bowlers were brilliant. Nathan Lyon as well and the way they all stepped up at different times, but we didn't bat well enough.

"I said this at the start of the series that the team that bats the best will win the Ashes. I said it consistently enough and we didn't bat well enough. That's the truth.

"I mean Steve Smith was obviously outstanding. What a pleasure to watch. He's a brilliant young man but what a pleasure to watch him bat.

"I thought the development of Marnus (Labuschagne, who averaged 50.42) was exciting, and he worked so hard. He's a bit in the Steve Smith mould, they're the sort of the players that you love to see do well because he worked so hard.

"The way Matthew Wade scored two centuries in this series, obviously including (Sunday).

"We talked about him knocking so hard to get an opportunity. He did that and then to back up with two Test hundreds in an Ashes series showed great fight and great skill.

"But we certainly fell short in other areas and we need to work on that."

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: Australia won by 185 runs at Old Trafford

Fifth Test: England won by 135 runs