So, where’s the Warner wow factor?

DAVID Warner’s destructive edge has gone missing, although teammates say his sluggish start to the World Cup can be attributed to quality bowling and tired pitches.

Warner soaked up 50 dot balls in his 56 off 84 deliveries and while the knock showed grit, it also added pressure given Australia were set 353 for victory after their most expensive bowling performance in World Cup history.

It took Warner 77 balls to reach 50 after using up 74 to hit the milestone against Afghanistan.

The 2-1 Aussies are set to swing a bowling change when they look to bounce back from just their fourth loss from their past 47 World Cup games against Pakistan tomorrow.

While Warner’s 148 runs ranks seventh in the tournament, and behind only Steve Smith (160) for the Aussies, the slashing opener’s two half-centuries have been the slowest of his career.

Warner faced 14 consecutive dot balls in the 36-run loss to India and his World Cup strike rate of 71.8 sits well below his career strike rate of 95.5

“Davey didn’t have his best day but was able to stick it out for a longer period of time instead of throwing his wicket away early,” Glenn Maxwell said.

“He was able to bat deeper, which is a key thing for us. Unfortunately, the first big risk he took he got out but another day he hits that for six.

“It might be the conditions, it might be the ball, not really sure. It seems to be doing a little bit more than what I’ve seen it do over here.”