David Warner is one of the most prolific batters ever produced by Australia. He has truckloads of experience under his belt and is one of the most dangerous batters presently in international cricket.
But of late, the southpaw hasn’t been in the best of form. In the 1st Test match between India and Australia in Nagpur, Warner notched up scores of 1 and 10 respectively in the 2 innings and struggled in the Indian conditions.
If Australia is to pose a serious threat to India in the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Test series, then they need to make some wholesome changes in the playing XI.
The openers play a pivotal role in a Test match. They are not only responsible for seeing off the new ball but also responsible for providing solid starts to the team.
In this article, we take a look at 3 reasons why David Warner shouldn’t be included in Australia’s playing XI for the 2nd Test:
1. Presence of other options for Australia
If David Warner is dropped from the playing XI, then it will pave the wave for talented all-rounder Cameron Green. In that case, Matt Renshaw can open the batting and Green could provide batting stability in the middle order. Australia’s team dynamics would increase and this can be a good way to move ahead if Australia is to exorcise the ghosts of their 1st Test loss.
Travis Head too could replace Warner if the Australian team management decides to give Renshaw an extended run.
2. David Warner is Ravichandran Ashwin’s bunny
The talismanic left-handed batter has a poor record while playing against India’s premier off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. India’s most experienced spinner presently has taken the wicket of David Warner, on 11 occasions.
In the 2nd innings of the Nagpur Test, Ashwin bowled a slider and Warner was caught leg behind. This could most certainly play as a psychological factor and might prevent Warner from taking risks and displaying intent.
3. Warner’s bad form
In simple words, David Warner is struggling a lot in the longest format of the game. David Warner had a terrible summer. In the series against South Africa in December-January, Warner lodged scores of 0, 3, 200, and 10. He also failed in the two innings against India. All this could well act as a throng in Australia’s quest to win the 2nd Test match in Delhi.
Also read: Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023: 5 Top Contenders For Player Of The Series
