David Warner has dominated headlines this week after releasing an explosive statement on the eve of the Adelaide Test, in which he announced his withdrawal from the review process into his lifetime leadership ban.
But it’s his future in Test cricket that looms as the real story of the summer.
Warner, 36, is playing his 98th match in the baggy green but his days at the top of Australia’s order appear numbered, unless he can drastically turn around some lean form.
In Adelaide he has been dismissed for 21 and for 28. In Perth last week he wqas bowled for 5 in the first innings, then scored 48 in the second.
He hasn’t scored a century since January 2020 – almost three years ago – and his Test average in the last two years is a measly 28.12 compared to his overall Test average of 46.29.
Cricket legend Ricky Ponting is concerned if Warner can’t find runs against a second-rate West Indies attack, he will struggle moreso against South Africa, and also in India and England next year.
“You talk about how things are getting tougher for Warner with the attack the South Africans have got. Well, it’s never easy in India either,” Ponting said on Seven’s coverage.
“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, (Jimmy) Anderson and (Ollie) Robinson.”
Warner had a miserable trip to England in 2019 when he was dominated by Broad in particular, being dismissed by the paceman seven times in 10 innings, and amassing only 95 runs in total for the series.
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