Andrew McDonald has downplayed considerations over David Warner’s horror document towards Stuart Broad, after Australia’s opener fell to the seamer twice in seven balls at Headingley.
Warner’s woes towards Broad continued on Friday, when he was caught within the slips for one within the third over of Australia’s second innings of the third Test at Headingley.
It marked the second time he is been out to his arch-nemesis in two days, after additionally being caught within the slips within the first over of the match on Thursday.
In complete, Warner has confronted seven balls off Broad on this Test, hit 4 runs and was out twice.
Australia went to stumps on day two at Headingley on 4-116 of their second innings and with a lead of 142, however Warner’s document towards Broad makes for uglier studying.
Both balls had been good ones to dismiss Warner, however in 53 Test innings towards the Englishman he has now been out to him 17 occasions.
Only Michael Atherton’s 19 occasions out to Glenn McGrath and Arthur Morris’ 18 dismissals by Alec Bedser make for worse studying in Test historical past.
“When you have an opening bowler bowling to an opening batsman, they are more likely to get them out with a new ball at times,” McDonald mentioned.
“The three fifty-plus run partnerships that Usman (Khawaja) and David have put on in the series have been telling and had great impact.
“So not right here to debate David Warner at this stage.”
The left-hander’s record against Broad could still eventually spell trouble for the 36-year-old and his dream of a Sydney farewell in January.
Warner has made several starts over the first three Tests of this tour, including 66 at Lord’s last week to give him some security in selection.
But he is yet to make the kind of big score that would lock him in long-term.
Australia could face a selection squeeze in the next Test if Cameron Green is available after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Before Mitch Marsh’s century on day one at Headingley, Green would have automatically come back into the side.
Now, the situation is not so easy.
Faced with a similar situation last January when Khawaja made twin tons on his Test return, selectors made opener Marcus Harris the sacrificial lamb when Travis Head returned from COVID in the next match.
If selectors did try to fit allrounders Marsh and Green into the same side, the only real option would be to leave out Warner and move Head or Marsh into the opening role.
There is not any indication but from selectors that they are going to make that transfer, however Warner has at all times identified solely runs can safe him the house Test farewell he has deliberate.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
