Sehwag saw Warner’s Test-match potential

MOST judges had pegged David Warner as a white-ball warrior early in his career, but Indian opener Virender Sehwag saw him differently.

“When I got the opportunity to play for Delhi in the IPL and I met Virender [Sehwag] there, he sat me down,’’ Warner said.

“He said I will be a better Test player than Twenty20 player. And I said to him: ‘You’re out of your mind’.”

Warner has become exceptional in both forms of the game but his 335 not out against Pakistan has cemented his legacy as a Test player.

Warner’s career average has not dipped below 40 for more than six years and its current mark of 48.58 has him again eyeing the prospect of finishing his career with a 50 average.

Sehwag could see that all coming. Warner said: “[Sehwag] always said to me: ‘What, they have some slips and a gully. Cover is open, midwicket is just there and mid-off and mid-on are up. You just play your way and you will get off to a flyer and sit there all day and pick them off’.

“It’s always just sat in the back of my mind.

“It sounded very easy when we were discussing that.”

Warner said he might retire from red or white-ball cricket to prolong his international career, but was not sure which one would end first.

“I haven’t really thought about it yet but I think when you play Test cricket, it’s obviously less taxing on your legs unless you’re out there all day like that,” he said.

“I haven’t really put any thought into what I’ll do first, whether it’s give away T20 internationals to free up some time for the Test matches.”