WHERE HAVE YOU GONE DAVID WARNER?
OUR NATION TURNS ITS LONELY EYES TO YOU
THE loss of Steve Smith for the third Test has put the Ashes spotlight on David Warner and the entire Australian camp expects the out-ofsorts opener to deliver for his country at Headingley.
A win this week would be enough for Australia to retain the Ashes, a fact not lost on captain Tim Paine, who was confident the loss of Smith, the leading run-scorer through the opening two Tests, could be covered.
That includes runs from Warner, the most experienced batsman in the Australian lineup, who has his back against the wall after a four single-figure scores with some questioning whether he’s the player he was before his 12-month ban.
But it’s when the world is coming at him that Paine thinks his opener batsman is at his best. With his team needing him more than ever, Paine believes Warner will deliver.
“I’ve spoken a lot about the fact he averages close to 50 in Test cricket and he’s done that over a long period of time,” Paine said.
“I think with Steve missing this game I think it might be the little poke and prod Davey needs.
“He likes that responsibility and my experience with Davey is when people doubt him and his back is against the wall he comes out swinging.”
Warner hasn’t lasted beyond the opening five overs in any of his first four innings, or longer than 20 minutes at the crease, heaping pressure on his less experienced partner Cameron Bancroft.
Australian coach Justin Langer was equally emphatic about the former vice-captain, who has played 76 Tests, has 6381 runs and 21 Test centuries but has never reached triple figures in England, and scored his last ton in December, 2017.
“I expect [a lot] out of him every time he plays, whether Steve Smith is playing or not playing. We expect it of all our senior players,” Langer said.
“He’ll be hungry. Don’t write off David Warner.”
Warner will enter the third Test with more runs than the rest of the Australian top-six combined (5373), including Marnus Labuschagne, who is likely to take Smith’s place.
Only one of that top six has a hundred this series, Matthew Wade, who failed twice at Lord’s. Paine, however, was not concerned.
“We’ve got totals in mind we know would make us a really competitive team, and we’ve got guys who know what their role is in among that,” he said.
“Our batters, and our bowlers this week post the Lord’s Test match have spoken about sticking to the process and knowing your role in the team.
“We think if we can nail those two things we are going to be right in the mix come day four or five of this Test.”
Paine said the pitch would again determine the make-up of the bowling attack, with James Pattinson expected to return after missing the last week’s match at Lord’s.