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Moving Warner to six is key in Australia's batting rebuild

Roar Guru
20th November, 2016
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Can Davey claw back some respectability by taking on Rabada? (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Guru
20th November, 2016
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1249 Reads

If I were to pose moving Dave Warner to number six in Australia’s Test line up, the outrage would ensue.

Instantly, fingers would be pointing to his 4819 runs at an average of 49.18 with 16 centuries in the opener role.

Warner is arguably the Australian team’s greatest strength in a truly shambolic batting line-up.

With the damning ‘conditions apply’ reality of the Australian batting once more exposed. When there is any semblance of a pulse in the pitch or supportive conditions the batting for the most is rendered hopelessly inept.

It also brought into focus Warner’s batting after being cheaply dismissed in the first innings to a loose swipe to a ball that seamed.

It brought this response from Head Coach Darren Lehmann, “We know David plays that way but probably not the first over on a seaming track,”

It poses the question over Warner’s ability to adapt, with him a player excelling due to his exceptional hand-eye coordination facilitated by his instinctual style at the top of the order.

His style lets him down in conditions away from the pitches of Australia, as seen in his home average of 59.22 slipping to 38.53 away from home.

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The disparity in figures points to where his free-spirited nature is clouded in unfamiliar confines.

The flawed techniques of Australia’s batsmen are blamed on the flat, batting friendly pitches that have dominated the Australian scene in recent times. If the calls to reassess pitches across all levels of the game lead to reverting to more traditional pitches, the need for structure in the line-up goes hand in hand, putting a focus on Warner.

A wiser path would be to rebuild the batting with more resolute openers and Warner reverted to six. Warner would be free of facing fresh bowlers armed with the new ball and instead would be primed to plunder.

The selection of young Matt Renshaw in the squad for the third Test against South Africa points to the adding of a more traditional element. When Shaun Marsh is fit it sets up the following likely top six to start the series against Pakistan.

Matt Renshaw
Shaun Marsh
Usman Khawaja
Steven Smith
Peter Handscomb/Kurtis Patterson
David Warner

The line up would add a greater stability at the top as well as offering Warner a chance to fully excel in a role better suited to his batting style.

The payoff is greater strength added to the lower order, where Warner’s dexterity in devastation would add greater threat.

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