There is a twist in the tale for Australia ahead of their marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year! ‘Former’ Australian Test opener David Warner has expressed his willingness to return to the red-ball cricket to address the team’s opening conundrum ahead of the series against India. This unexpected announcement comes amidst concerns about the team’s batting lineup, particularly with Steve Smith struggling to find his rhythm at the top of the order.
David Warner is back in town!
Warner, who retired from Test cricket at the start of this year, has stated that he would be even ‘open’ to playing in the Sheffield Shield to prove his fitness and readiness to contribute to the Australian team. “I’m always available, just got to pick up the phone,” Warner told News Corp on Tuesday.
“I’m always dead serious. Let’s be honest, the guys have played one red ball game (first round of the shield) since their last Test matches in February, so I’ve almost had the same preparation. Honestly, if they really needed myself for this series, I’m more than happy to play the next Shield game and go out there and play. I did retire for the right reasons to finish the game, and I wanted to finish. (But) my hand is up if they desperately need someone. I’m not going to shy away from that.”
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His offer to return to the national side could send alarm bells to the Indian team, given his vast experience and proven track record as one of the country’s most successful openers. Regardless, with Warner turning 38 next week, he is no longer the same player he was in his prime. The demands of Test cricket can be physically demanding, and it remains to be seen if Warner can still maintain the same level of performance. Moreover, he has been regularly playing T10 cricket, which is entirely different from the real ‘test’.
Test stats: David Warner vs India
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50/100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 19 | 760 | 42.22 | 0/4 |
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