Warner plans to deploy reverse sweep against Ashwin’s spin
They came out and said they don’t sledge. I think it’s just banter. I don’t need to respond. I’d be pretty upset if one of our players or staff did that. We know he’s (Pat Cummins) got a lot of pace which he will definitely bring and that’s one thing we always talk about.
Warner is aiming to break the stranglehold that R Ashwin holds over him by adopting the reverse sweep against India’s star spinner.
R Ashwin has dismissed Warner nine times in 23 Test innings, including three times in the current series, which is tied at 1-1 ahead of the third meeting in Ranchi.
Warner paid credit to the 30-year-old, but thinks he may have found a way to nullify his threat when the next match begins on Thursday – though the left-hander concedes it is not without its risks.
“I’m working on a few things in the nets,” said the opening batsman, who averages 48.27 in Tests.
“I know he’s going to be at one end for the whole time I’m out there, and the other end I’ve got another spinner or quick so I’ve got to negate that,’ he said.
Warner is pretty sure about the reverse sweep but what might keep him guessing is the variable bounce in the Indian pitches.
“The last Test I was contemplating to play a reverse sweep. The only concern for me is the variable bounce – that’s always the challenging thing.
“If you miss that and switch hit you can still be given out lbw, but if you reverse you can’t – you have to be careful.
“I know in my mind if I play a shot, he will change something. I know if he tries something I’m thinking in the back of my mind how am I going to score.
“That’s credit to him. He’s a fantastic bowler, he’s got a lot of wickets in his backyard and I have to respect that.”
David Warner has contributed 98 runs in the series, which started with a resounding 333run win for the tourists, before India levelled it up with a 75-run triumph last time out.