When David Warner says that he “lives by the sword and dies by the sword,” it is not an empty statement. The left-handed starter often deflates rival bowlers, and a strike index of 72.86 and an average of 48.95 in 84 tests underscore his aggressive hitting and consistency.
It’s no wonder the hosts are pinning their hopes on Warner as the third round of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series approaches, even as the explosive starter admits it’s “very doubtful” he’s fully fit after injury. in the groin kept him out of the first two Tests
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Australia is desperate. Batting in Warner’s absence has been mediocre as India has struggled to square the series 1-1. The Sydney test begins on Thursday.
Since Steve Smith’s 111 at the Dharamsala Test in March 2017, teams have played six Trials without any Australian batsman scoring a century. Among the 17 Australian hitters listed, Marcus Harris’s 79 is the highest individual score, his 36.85 the highest average. He’s on the squad but he hasn’t played. In the same period, Indian batsmen have scored six centuries, with Cheteshwar Pujara’s 193 in the 2018-19 tour being the highest.
The credit should go to the Indian bowling alley; its depth and variety has kept Australian hitters subdued, although other teams have fared better.
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Between April 2017 and December 2020, Sri Lanka had five centurions in six games against India, England three in five, South Africa two in six and the West Indies one in four games. Only Bangladesh (2 tests), New Zealand (2 tests) and Afghanistan (1 test) did not score a century against India in that phase.
According to Cricviz data, Australia’s execution rate after the first two tests is 2.64, roughly the same as in 2018-19 when India won the four-round series 2-1. That series didn’t have Smith and Warner, both serving bans, while Marnus Labuschagne hadn’t yet peaked. This time, Smith and Labuchagne have kept quiet.
Australia wants Warner to bring batting stability and show intent against Indian bowling.
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“I’ve been talking to some of the guys,” Warner said in a virtual media interaction Saturday. “They have been saying that (India) are reaching great distances. It’s the key on Australian grounds, whether it’s to push up or allow the ball to hit the bat, land and run and apply that pressure. A bit of that has probably been lacking, on both sides.
“In test cricket you cannot allow big attacks to impose you as a batsman. It has its challenges by all means, but sometimes you have to play out of the square and be a bit brave. I’ve always said I’d rather swing down than sit there in the crease. If I can get up and leave, I will have the intention that I always had.
“My 84 tests have always been on premeditated attacks and it doesn’t change; it’s about how the team sees it. When I talk about intent, I mean putting pressure on bowlers, not just swinging the bat. ”
Warner gave credit to the Indian bowlers, who have done brilliantly despite the absence of Ishant Sharma and the injuries of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.
“If they are playing well, you have to respect it … Both attacks have been launched so well that it has dictated the pace of the race,” he said. “You’re going to have to play the shots somewhere, whether you go out or not or hit it to mark the limit.
“I live by the sword, I die by the sword when I’m out there with the bat.
In both events, Australia’s opening spots were 16, 70, 10 and 4. With Joe Burns eliminated, Sydney will have a new starting pair. Warner wants to wait two more days before deciding if he can play.
“I haven’t trained the last few days, but after today and tomorrow they will give me a better indication of where I am. Am I going to be one hundred percent? Very doubtful. But I’ll do my best to get into that park and play.
“If I feel like I can fulfill my duties, whether it’s standing on the slip cord, receiving catches to my right and left… I think that’s what will determine whether I play or not. I can handle the race between gates, the shot I have; is if I have the ability to catch balls left and right. With Gazza (Nathan Lyon) bowling, do I go to the field on the first slip or leg slip? ”
Warner suffered the torn groin during the second ODI against India in November. His rehabilitation has included cryotherapy (extreme cold treatment).
“There will be some restrictions here and there,” he said. “When you enter a game, the adrenaline takes over you, somehow you have no doubt that you can’t play those shots. But at the moment, yeah, there are some shots where if you go for it … For me it’s all about my speed between terrains, that’s all that matters, no matter what shots I can and can’t play. It’s about running and running, helping the guy on the other end get off strike. They are the things I like to be 100% fit for. “
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