Warner bludgeons another message for Test selectors
Columnist By Luke Doherty, 7 Nov 2011 Luke Doherty is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Australian Cricket, Cricket, David Warner, Test cricket
David Warner shifting from blaster to crafter (AAP)
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You’d be forgiven for looking at David Warner’s 148 for New South Wales yesterday and thinking it was just another smash and bash innings, but the left hander is starting to demand more respect than that.
His performance on day one of the Blues’ Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at Bankstown Oval in suburban Sydney was another sign of his growing maturity and patience with the willow in hand.
Whether there’s room for him in the test side and whether he deserves a baggy green cap is something we’ll get to later.
The knock, instead of taking 40 minutes, took four hours.
He hit 22-fours and two sixes, one of which went out of the ground to bring up his century, but the fact he was at the crease to do so is the important thing.
His ability to be effective over a long period of time has caught the eye of the men who used to be Australian selectors.
He was called up as a stand-by player for Ricky Ponting during the tour of Sri Lanka and scored 211 for Australia A on a recent tour of Zimbabwe.
The 25-year-old has even changed the way he plays in Twenty20 cricket and trains for the game in general.
His outings in the T20 Champions League started off slower than usual, but did of course end with a long line of sixes while he has started batting in the nets for periods of up to three hours to improve his concentration.
Many thought the transformation would be impossible for a man who made his international debut before playing Sheffield Shield cricket for New South Wales.
He was the poster-boy for a new generation of players who would make fast money from the shortest form of the game without caring about the technique required to play test cricket.
What has happened was unthinkable not so long ago.
We all thought it would’ve been like turning a heavy metal guitarist into a classical pianist.
Warner says his 148 is further proof he’s ready to make the jump into the test side but while it’s a step in the right direction, is it enough?
I would like to see a continuation of his powers of concentration over a season instead of a couple of Sheffield Shield games, but cricket doesn’t seem to work like that anymore.
Still, he does appear to be the next in line to the throne should Phil Hughes fail against South Africa and perhaps New Zealand over the coming months.
In a post Ponting/Mike Hussey era Warner and Hughes could even be the opening batsmen with Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke, Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin or Tim Paine to come.
Whether we’re at or nearing that point in our history remains to be seen.
You can follow Luke Doherty on Twitter @luke_doherty and on Sky Sports News.
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- Explore:
- Australian Cricket, Cricket, David Warner, Test cricket
November 7th 2011 @ 8:32am
Chris said | November 7th 2011 @ 8:32am | Report comment
You’d have to say that there is reason for confidence in the Australian Test team over the next couple of years. Hopefully Hughes will cement his spot, Warner to replace Watson at the top (with Watson to drop down to the middle order), Khawaja to replace Ponting, Marsh to replace Hussey, Paine to replace Haddin and a batch of promising fast bowlers on the verge of selection. The only thing we’re missing is a promising young spinner.
November 7th 2011 @ 11:23am
jameswm said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Steve Smith is highly promising, but they haven’t worked out yet that he needs to play as a bowling all rounder.
I don’t share your hope on Hughes though.
But good on Davey Warner. Hard work being rewarded.
November 8th 2011 @ 1:00am
Trev said | November 8th 2011 @ 1:00am | Report comment
I have’nt seen anything from Smiths bowling that gives me any hope. Any time I’ve seen him he has’nt turned the ball or even mixed it up, he has just bowled balls that sit up nicely into the batsmans hitting zone.
November 8th 2011 @ 11:56am
jameswm said | November 8th 2011 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Smith has good control and good variation. You don’t need to be a massive turner to be successful. I’ve seen him bowl some very good spells, at a very youg age for a leggie. And I think he’s got the personality for it, too, as well as being a brilliant fielder and useful 7-8 batsman.
I don’t think he’s being played the right way, or being mentored/coached correctly. I was encouraged by his comments after his century, that he needs to work more on his bowling and improve that more to move through. He’s right. He could turn his stock ball a bit more, but landing it consistently is the key, with slight variations in length, speed and overspin. He’s got a flipper, though it’s not that consistent yet. Can Warnie be prized away from Liz to spend some more time with him?
Wade has just scored some good runs – a ton and an 80. I also like Paine and I’d be happy wih either – in the side now, to be honest. I’m sick of Haddin’s inconsistencies.
I’ve been interested to watch the two Tassie all rounders, but neither has done anything yet this season.
I’d like the look of 6-7-8 in our test team with Watson, Wade/Paine and Smith there. Quicks are pretty well covered for some time. Top order and spinners are the main concern. I have little faith in Hughes, but maybe between Marsh, Khawaja, Warner and Clarke we can form a combination, though those names don’t exactly strike fear into anyone at the moment.
November 7th 2011 @ 8:19pm
Fisher Price said | November 7th 2011 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
Some of those things should have happened already, and Wade should be give a go as keeper/batsman.
November 7th 2011 @ 8:40am
Al from ctown said | November 7th 2011 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Warner definately has the talent, and let’s face it, he unfortunately can’t so any worst than hughes..
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November 7th 2011 @ 9:46am
Harry said | November 7th 2011 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Remind me, how did Hughes go in the last test he played, and the last time he was in SA?
November 7th 2011 @ 11:24am
jameswm said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Hughes got a ton on a road against mediocre bowling, after 5 consecutive failures in that series. You can’t just look at one innings.
Hughes averages 25 in his last 10 tests even includinhg his last start ton.
November 7th 2011 @ 9:05am
jamesb said | November 7th 2011 @ 9:05am | Report comment
don’t forget chris lynn from qld.
ATM i think he’s out injured
Look if Dave Warner and Pat Cummins make the test team and contribute, exciting times ahead for Australian cricket
November 7th 2011 @ 9:34am
Matt F said | November 7th 2011 @ 9:34am | Report comment
I read that he now averages 74 in first class cricket, albeit I think this is only his 10th game. He’s certainly looking more and more like a test player in waiting, though I agree with you Luke that we should judge him at the end of this shield season, not just on this one knock.
November 7th 2011 @ 10:46am
Chris said | November 7th 2011 @ 10:46am | Report comment
Yep – if he can perform well consistently all season, then he’d be pretty hard to keep out of the Test team.
November 7th 2011 @ 11:25am
jameswm said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Matt Warner was the standout batsman when Aust A tourde somewhere in about July, maybe Bangers. It’s not just one innings, he’s building up a few now.
November 7th 2011 @ 11:42am
Brett McKay said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:42am | Report comment
Zimbabwe..
November 7th 2011 @ 11:52am
Matt F said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Yeah he made a double ton against Zimbabwe, amongst other good scores on that tour. He’s doing really well but he’s still limited in his experience. If he keeps it up I wouldn’t be unhappy if he came into the team this summer but I’d still like to see him with a full SS season under his belt. Ideally he and Khawaja could be replacing Ponting/Hussey over the next year or so (maybe sooner if Ponting can’t find form by the end of the India series or maybe a bit sooner) with Watson moving down the order. Obviously there are other players that can be in that mix (Lynn for example) but those two seem like the stand out choices right now.
November 7th 2011 @ 10:04am
Frankie Hughes said | November 7th 2011 @ 10:04am | Report comment
As good as Warner is playing, he’s not in the same class as Hughes. Warner at Test level would be better at 5/6
November 7th 2011 @ 10:48am
Chris said | November 7th 2011 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Why would you say that? He’s always been an opener… Doesn’t make sense to play him out of position.
November 7th 2011 @ 11:17am
Frankie Hughes said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:17am | Report comment
He may have opened all his career, but on more lively pitches, his technique isn’t good enough.
Plus however good his form is, he’s yet to score big runs vs a potent first class attack. Flogging Zim ‘A’ and this SAu attack isn’t the best barometer
November 7th 2011 @ 11:28am
jameswm said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Oh yeah, right. Warner can’t open at test level because of his technique, yet you don’t put him in the same class as Hughes?
I can only assume you mean he’s a higher class than Hughes.
Hughes got a ton on a road aginst a similar level bowling to Bangers and Sth Aust, after about 11 consecutive test failures. Anyone could do better than him.
If Hughes is out of his depth in SA, he’ll be dumped faster than you can say Katich.
November 7th 2011 @ 12:12pm
Bayman said | November 7th 2011 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Frankie,
I suspect that if we get into a discussion on technique alone then Warner just might edge Hughes. The younger Warner was a class player and anyone who saw him knew it.
Unfortunately, his blinding international debut where he smashed the bowlers tended to sidetrack him a little. People tended to view him as a bash merchant only and he tended to waste the next couple of years trying to live up to that reputation.
Now he seems to have reverted back to the class player he was as a kid and the results are starting to show. Since his maiden hundred against WA in the final Shield match of last season he has now added two more centuries, including a double. He has developed a taste for it – and I think he likes it.
Hughes is undoubtedly a talent and his first class record is quite exceptional. Warner, however, has the better technique and always has had. Personally, I wouldn’t be rushing him into the Test team but he will certainly play at that level sooner rather than later. Whether it’s Hughes spot he takes is really up to Hughes. Phil may be unorthodox but he does have a great ability to score hundreds.
Perhaps Warner will eventually replace Watson – which I think is the better call – because despite Watto’s outstanding style he’s no opening batsman.
All we need to do now is get Paine’s injury right and have him replace Haddin and the team is starting to look ok.
November 7th 2011 @ 12:31pm
Matt F said | November 7th 2011 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
One thing that I think needs to be considered when talking about Hughes is his age. He’s still only 22, despite being around forever, whereas Warner is 25 and we know that cricketers don’t really hit their best until their mid-late 20′s and into their 30′s (especially batsmen and spinners.) I’m pretty sure almost all of the players that formed the backbone of our recent golden generation (Ponting, Langer, Hayden, Clarke, Waugh twins, Martin etc, and that’s just batsmen) were first picked for the test team in their teens/early 20′s and dropped only to come back later on and become great players. Warner is probably just starting to be comfortable with his game now whilst Hughes is still figuring his out.
That’s not to say Hughes should be given 4-5 years in the test team to work it out, form will determine if he deserves to stay there, just that he still has a long, long time in the game and his record as a 22 year old is up there with the best.
November 7th 2011 @ 1:14pm
jameswm said | November 7th 2011 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Bayman
I don’t know that Hughes’s first class record is so exceptional. He averages only 39 in tests, and I think 49 in first class. The first class average is good, but not what I’d call exceptional.
What most of us care about is what he does against quality bowling in less than perfect conditions. When I saw him batting in the state T20s he was outright awful, and even got dropped.
November 7th 2011 @ 3:28pm
Brendon said | November 7th 2011 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Hughes first class average is 50.16 and dragged down by his lower test average.
November 10th 2011 @ 10:03am
Bayman said | November 10th 2011 @ 10:03am | Report comment
jameswm,
As Brendon has pointed out, Hughes averages 50.16 in first class matches (prior to the current Test). He has also scored 17 centuries (3 in Tests) in 62 f/c matches (13 Tests).
Compare this to Watson, whose technique and right to be in the Test team have rarely been questioned in recent times (17 f/c hundreds in 98 matches including 2 Tests hundreds in 30 Tests). Compare it with Shaun Marsh.
Hughes is scoring 50 at roughly every 2.5 innings in all first class cricket. Most players would be happy with that.
We can talk about technique all you like but the fact is that Hughes keeps making runs and he often turns it into a big score. Make no mistake, I have been critical of Hughes technique like everyone else but I also put some faith in the old adage, “It’s not how, it’s how many”.
November 7th 2011 @ 10:11am
Brett McKay said | November 7th 2011 @ 10:11am | Report comment
It’s great to see Warner making these big first-class scores. Sheer weight of runs won’t be ignored forever..
November 7th 2011 @ 8:23pm
Fisher Price said | November 7th 2011 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
Exactly. That’s what (rightly) got Hughes into the Test team first time around.
November 10th 2011 @ 10:13am
Bayman said | November 10th 2011 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Brett,
I agree that Warner is a player to watch for future Test honours and I would not be surprised if he’s in the side before the end of the summer.
That said, do I hear a push now for Tom Cooper. A near miss (98) and an unbeaten double (203no) in the recent Shield match against NSW following a hundred in the one-dayer against the same team a few weeks ago. After all, he is from NSW originally and I have no doubt his name would get bandied around more if he was still playing for them.
November 10th 2011 @ 10:20am
Brett McKay said | November 10th 2011 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Bayman, I’ve heard the same, and even thoughts that Cooper is about to or has already usurped Ferguson as the SA batsman to push through…
November 7th 2011 @ 10:18am
Harry said | November 7th 2011 @ 10:18am | Report comment
When I read the haeadline I thought here we go, typical NSW push, someone plays one decent game in either rugby or cricket at club or state level for the sky blues, and according to the invariably Sydney based press that automatically means they should be in the test team. However having read the piece in full I fully agree that if Warner can string a few good long innings together in shield over the next 12 months then he may well come into reckoning for the test team. Not before. Good luck to him.
More generally I agree with a few of the above in that there are some exciting young cricketers coming through. I watched on and off a pretty good one day game yesterday between Qld and WA, and there were some promising young players doing well – the WA right handed opener, the younger Marsh as an all rounder, Craig McDermott’s son (jeez, he’s not hard to pick!) and then some guy called Ben Dunk scored a superb century to win the game for Qld.
November 8th 2011 @ 8:46am
Lolly said | November 8th 2011 @ 8:46am | Report comment
That was a good match. The Ryobi has turned out some great matches already this season. Shame the Warriors can’t get over the line, but their last 2 matches have been very competitive.
November 7th 2011 @ 11:55am
Rickety Knees said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Well done Dave Warner!
November 7th 2011 @ 11:56am
phil osopher said | November 7th 2011 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Okay your a sports guy but I think you’ll find that most heavy metal guitarists were actually trained classical musicians in their childhood. Heavy metal guiatr and classical are not that far removed from each other. You should use term ‘punk rocker into classical musicians’ to make the point.
November 8th 2011 @ 2:25pm
Wylie said | November 8th 2011 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
Yep – you can’t play metal without knowing your scales.
November 7th 2011 @ 12:55pm
Axelv said | November 7th 2011 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Hughes, Warner and Smith are all rubbish. Terrible players and the only reason why they’re in the team is because they’re from NSW.
November 7th 2011 @ 1:28pm
jameswm said | November 7th 2011 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
Warner and Smith have both scored 1st class tons in the last 24 hours.
Maybe not the smartest day to be saying that, Axel.
November 7th 2011 @ 4:22pm
jamesb said | November 7th 2011 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
Axelv
other players from other states are even worse!