David Warner has proved T20 players can adapt to Test cricket

Tags: Australia tour of UAE 2014, Pakistan, Australia, David Andrew Warner

Published on: Oct 23, 2014

When David Warner made his T20 debut for Australia a few seasons back, nobody must have even given a thought of him opening the innings for Australia in

When David Warner made his T20 debut for Australia a few seasons back, nobody must have even given a thought of him opening the innings for Australia in Test cricket one day, and succeeding amazingly at the same. After all, the dashing left-hander’s game was completely suited to the T20 format, see ball, hit ball. That’s it! Such a style of play can only be termed a recipe for disaster in Test cricket. But, wait a minute; look at what Warner has already achieved in the format – nine Test centuries, currently playing in his 31st game, and an average which is inching ever closer to 50.


2014, in fact, has been a watershed year for the Aussie dasher. His ton on the third day at Dubai against Pakistan was his third Test ton in consecutive innings’. Adam Gilchirst and Don Bradman are the only other players to do so, which means Warner is in great company. Warner’s great run stretches past the last three knocks. He hasn’t tasted failure in his last six Test innings. Warner’s scores during these visits to the crease have been 115, 70, 66, 135, 145 and 133. As a result of such amazing successes, he now averages 75 in the last 12 months.


What’s highly incredible about Warner’s achievement is that he has fought back from a very tough 2013. In the last year, he faced issues with form and fitness, and his attitude was also question under certain circumstances. In the seven Tests that he featured in 2013, Warner managed only 333 runs at a poor average of under 24. And that wasn’t all. The maverick cricketer was dropped from two Ashes Tests for punching Joe Root. Later, he was also dumped from the one-day side apart from being fined for a spat on Twitter with some journalists.


To turn around his career completely, and recover from such a mess, Warner must have done a lot of stuff right. First things first, he seems to be focusing on his batting a lot more than he was last year. And no, this isn’t being said since he is among the runs. The change in attitude has been evident. Although Warner has not altered his aggressive style of play, he has defined refined his game. 12 months back, he was getting out either playing rash strokes, or after getting starts. Lately, he’s been doing neither.


Having Chris Rogers at the other end has definitely helped Warner’s cause. The domestic veteran has had a calming influence on the aggressive southpaw, and Rogers’ dogged style of play has complemented Warner perfectly. As a duo, they are working wonders for Australia. No praise can be too much for Warner for the manner in which he has resurrected his career. It is a lesson for other youngsters who may have lost their way. Above all, Warner’s success proves that played made for T20 can adapt to the longer version, if they have the attitude.


--By A Cricket Analyst

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