Warning: Warner’s in a mood
THE “Bull” is back and Australian opener David Warner has a look in his eye that coach Justin Langer says could mean big things at Lord’s this week as his team looks to take a 2-0 Ashes lead.
In his first Test back after a 12-month ban, Warner failed twice with the bat at Edgbaston scoring just two and eight in a return that surprised plenty after his World Cup run blitz.
Warner was spared having to go to Worcester for a tour match last week and instead spent time in London with his family in a bid to break the travel-train-play monotony of the tour.
But the dynamic left-hander was one of only two specialist batsmen to turn up for Australia’s first training session at Lord’s on Sunday, hitting balls inside and outside for more than an hour.
Warner has never made a Test hundred in England, and averages just 33 compared with his career average of 47.
He is, however, seemingly back to his cheeky, bubbly old self, choosing, as captain Tim Paine revealed, to field in front of the boisterous Hollies Stand at Edgbaston despite them booing and jeering him.
But he smiled back then, and strutted to the practice nets on Monday with an air of confidence that enthused Langer about what’s to come.
“I like it when great players miss out. They are great players for a reason and he has that look in his eye,” Langer said.
“He would have liked to get more runs in the first game like a few of the boys, but I don’t mind when the great players miss out a few times.
“Statistically, they probably get some pretty soon. Hopefully it’s this Test match.”
Langer said it was hard to forget his players were people too and having been in England since mid-May, having completed 11 World Cup games and an Ashes Test, a dip in form wasn’t too surprising.
“When you get on the merrygo-round you probably don’t see the best of them all the time. You’ve got the IPL now as well,” Langer said.
“You have to recognise they are humans and have a certain amount of battery and you recharge them as well as you can for every big event.”