How do you remedy an issue like David Warner’s kind? It seems hope for one of the best is the reply.
The opener has made headlines this week after declaring he is not going to be interesting his management ban as a result of hearings can be made public.
But Warner’s kind on the sphere has come beneath growing scrutiny after he struggled towards a weakened West Indies bowling assault within the two-match sequence.
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While Usman Khawaja has appeared strong and Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Steve Smith have scored centuries, Warner has produced scores of 5, 48, 21 and 28 from his 4 innings.
Warner hasn’t scored a Test century since January 2020 towards New Zealand — 1074 days in the past — and his final ton away from residence was towards Bangladesh in 2017.
“I didn’t realise it was that lean, to be honest,” Ricky Ponting stated on Channel 7 of Warner’s century drought.
“Coming on for two years for a Test match century. Four half centuries in his last 26 innings.”
With a fearsome South African quick bowling assault on Australian soil and excursions of India and England on the horizon, Warner will likely be hoping to enhance his kind shortly.
“You talk about how things are getting tougher for Warner with the attack the South Africans have got,” Ponting added.
“Well, it’s never easy in India either. We know what wickets we will get there. We will get turning pitches. No doubt. It’s never been easy for any Australian batsman going there and trying to play in those conditions.
“Then on the back of that, what’s after that? The Ashes, in England as well. We will get conditions that will suit (Stuart) Broad, (James) Anderson and (Ollie) Robinson.”
Warner has flagged subsequent 12 months’s Ashes tour of England as a possible end line to his Test profession, whereas the 36-year-old’s robust white ball kind may see him play ODIs and T20s for a pair extra years.
But Warner’s underwhelming kind in purple ball cricket has raised a dilemma for Australian cricket.
If and when Warner and Khawaja hold up the gloves, who will substitute them?
Will Pucovski was seen as the subsequent long run opener for Australia however the Victorian prodigy has stepped away from cricket for private causes with no timeline on his return.
“Henry Hunt from South Australia and Tim Ward, he really impressed me last year,” ex-Australian paceman Merv Hughes stated on Triple M.
“But they seemed miles off until Pucovski got injured. Everyone was just thinking and hoping that Pucovski would come back in and that hasn’t been the case. So it’s really opened the door.”
“To be absolutely frank, there’s not a lot that can replace either Usman Khawaja or David Warner going forward at the moment,” former Australian captain Mark Taylor added.
(Marcus) Harris is within the squad however not taking part in that properly. (Matt) Renshaw’s going all proper in Shield cricket however neither of them are taking part in anyplace close to in addition to Warner and Khawaja for the time being. And but each these guys are 36 years previous.
“So there’s going to be some changes at some stages over the next 12-24 months for Australian cricket. It’s important from an Australian cricket point of view that we find some replacements for both Khawaja and Warner.”
Khawaja turns 36 subsequent week and the clock will quickly be ticking on the veteran duo’s partnership on the high of the order.
“With Khawaja and Warner at their age, they could both leave the game at the same time, although Khawaja’s looking a bit more comfortable at this stage then Warner is,” Hughes stated.
With 24 Test centuries to his title, Warner will go down as one in every of Australia’s biggest ever openers.
But his lean spell may quickly give selectors a critical headache.
“He hasn’t made a hundred for a long time,” Hughes stated.
“My personal belief is he’s not wound up against the West Indies but he’s going to need to wind up against South Africa.
“The thing you’re starting to see with David Warner is he’s starting to struggle a little bit more with that short ball,” Taylor stated.
“That’s an area he’s going to be tested by South Africa. That’s going to be a big series for him because he’s not made the runs in recent times that I’m sure he would like and Australia would like.”
Australia is on observe to say a 2-0 sequence win over West Indies earlier than taking up South Africa in a three-match sequence.
Originally revealed as ‘Miles off’: David Warner’s ‘lean’ 1074-day drought exposes worrying dilemma
