David Warner spoke this week about his need to adapt to the way his new opening partner, Matt Renshaw, plays the new ball.
Warner said he’ll be looking to better read the signals coming from his still very green colleague at the top of the order.
“I have to learn to adapt to the way he plays and he has to adapt to the way that I play,” Warner said in the build-up to the first ever day-night Test in Brisbane.
“The beauty is if I get on top of an attack, he might get the loose ones and he can start playing a few shots.
“Him leaving the ball on good areas may actually relay a message to me that there’s a bit of movement in the wicket and I have to start respecting it a little bit more and watch it closely.”
Renshaw, the young Queensland opener outrageously criticised for his scoring rate in the second innings in Adelaide – you know; his Test Debut, pink ball, all that – is Warner’s eighth career opening partner in his 56 Tests played to date.
You’d think it shouldn’t be a major issue for Warner, adapting to a contrasting style. Renshaw’s ‘real opener’ method, to borrow Richard Hinds’ favoured term, is the perfect foil for Warner’s natural game, and Warner’s longest and most productive opening partnerships have been with Chris Rogers and Ed Cowan; neither of them likely to give Warner a run for his money in strike-rate terms.
Warner and Rogers passed 50 as a pair on 16 occasions in 41 innings, converting nine of them into century stands.
Warner and Cowan went past 50 nine times in 28 digs, pushing three of them past 100 as well.
Warner and Renshaw have started well as a pair, with their sole partnership netting 64 in the second innings in Adelaide against South Africa (remembering that Warner couldn’t open in the first innings due to an ill-timed decision to seek medical treatment for a shoulder issue while fielding).
It was equally interesting to hear Warner talk about an evident maturing of his approach, the realisation that now – as the oldest player in the batting order – the time for wild, cavalier heaves at anything outside off stump might be coming to an end.
“I haven’t been as patient… some balls I’ve been playing at, I probably shouldn’t be,” he said.
“There’s probably been a bit more movement in the wickets as well. I should be trying to rein it in a little bit.”
Yes, Warner probably should.
But Warner’s exceptional form in the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series this month showed plenty of that. He still played his shots – that won’t change in a one-day game – but he showed maturity in his innings early on, and whenever a wicket was lost at the other end.
And importantly, he gained some valuable time in the middle, which can only auger well for the first Test against Pakistan, against what will be another challenging bowling line-up.
Renshaw also spent some time in the middle, even if wasn’t as much as he might have liked, facing more than 110 balls across both innings and making a first-innings 30 in Queensland’s eight-wicket loss to Western Australia last week. And one of the few Bulls’ bats to spend more time facing up was Usman Khawaja, who made 157 and 61 against the pink ball, in what you’d hope is the perfect lead-in to the Gabba Test.
Steven Smith got plenty of time facing the New Zealand attack, and judging by the two ridicu-super-catches he took in consecutive games, he’s clearly seeing the ball pretty well.
Peter Handscomb made 17 and 30 for Victoria against Tasmania in the day-night Shield game at Bellerive, and while it was pleasing to see Nic Maddinson make a first-innings 80 against South Australia under lights in Adelaide, he was bowled for a duck again in the second innings, as NSW fell in a heap to be all out 87.
Even Matthew Wade got to spend some time with the batting pads on across the three ODIs against New Zealand, albeit late in the innings each time, and with Warner or Smith going at the other end.
The central thing in all this is that where little over a fortnight ago there was uncertainty around the ability of the shaken-up Australian top-order to bat for any great length of time, they have all – with the possible exception of Wade – since had multiple chances to spend time at the crease.
For the younger guys, this has even come against the pink ball, and the batsmen as a unit should take plenty of confidence out of the way they won in Adelaide.
That’s not for a moment suggesting they’re comfortable; far from it. But it’s been a much smoother, and less nationally nervous build-up to this Test, and that should put the batting order in a good place.
I’m just one cricket fan, but I feel a lot better than a fortnight ago about the Test team’s chances.
doogs
Guest
you are a bogan. Maybe Warner was a bogan at some point. But he progressed spectacularly. You have gone nowhere
doogs
Guest
Chris you seem like a very levelled fellow. I don't know why you go into such a lengthy response to Don. He is clearly insane. But very nice of you
doogs
Guest
I really think you represent the lowest common demoninator in society
doogs
Guest
because Don Piper missed closing time at Chemist Warehouse
doogs
Guest
Don get into rehab. All the best
doogs
Guest
Don. Please lay down. Take it easy. Relax. Just breath. Sending one of the top two batsmen for Australia back to grade cricket??? Put the top back on the bottle and rest. You are struggling
GD66
Guest
Despite Warner's undoubted great eye, I have always wished he would exhibit some patience, play himself in to adapt to the light/weather/bowler/pitch/movement/bounce/field positions/state of the match, and say play in the V until he was 20 or so, THEN and only then unleash the axe murderer and flail away with impunity. Now with his new, relaxed, mature persona he is playing in, behaving in a thoughtful manner and looking formidable, I wish him all the best for working on his game and I think his best may still be before him. Either way, if he has been perceived as no more than a T20-based threshing bogan then his transformation into one of the world's leading batsmen has been one of the joys of my many years of enjoying cricket. You've gotta go hats-off when a talent like this comes good. And I went to day 3 at the Perth test and his ground fielding was outstanding, inspiring and exemplary to his team-mates. A good man.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Sorry Don, but I can't agree. Warner represents someone who has actually worked incredibly hard and managed to overcome a poor, housing commission upbringing to rise to the top of international sport. I actually have a lot more respect for him than the type who are born to rich parents, go to the best schools, have every advantage etc. Sure he's a bit rough around the edges, you don't come from that sort of background and not be. But in a nation full of snobs who complain about housing commission dole bludgers and how they should just "get a job" we should actually be encouraging people like Warner.
madmonk
Guest
I couldn't work out if it was a compliment or criticism of his partner. I think he is saying "that juicy one 6 inches outside off that he just let go, I would've taken that through cover on the rise. But maybe despite me not seeing anything go off the straight, this young buck is seeing it better than me and in fact it really is hooping around, so maybe I should be careful."' My advice to DW is, you have never given the impression that you are overthinking it out there. Don't start now!!
Geoff Parkes
Expert
I'd like to dig 'heals' in as well. Preferably very deep.
Disco Stu
Roar Rookie
So seeing a bogan put in the effort to excel at a healthy sporting pastime and become successful is a bad thing for our society then??? If in fact there is a "bogan problem" in our country, you're seriously suggesting that the best way to handle it would be to tell any talented bogans to stop trying, because we don't want to see them trying to improve their lot in life.......at least until they've had some elocution lessons anyway.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Surprised the 1st one wasn't Bianca Mae - for the initials.
E-Meter
Guest
But Don, who comes in for Dave? What's the solution?
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
He has two daughters - Ivy Mae and Indi Rae. And no, I am not making that up.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Don't ask me how anyone read your comment as a criticism of Warner. We all know he plays at too many outside off. I don't think anyone expected him to do quite as well in tests as he has, except perhaps Davey himself. Look at the batsmen ranked below him: Pujara, Younus Khan, Cook, de Kock, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mathews, Taylor, Khawaja, du Plessis etc. Khawaja is on the rise and his ranking is lower because he hsn't played enough tests to get to his max ranking.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I know! I didn't read it as having a go at him. You were saying there's as much chance of Warner playing at balls he shouldn;t1, 2 and 5 are similar. No one called him a genius, but you don't have to be to be a great player. I've played with people with low IQs but high cricket IQs - and the reverse. In terms of his ability - here are the top 7 test batsmen in the world. Pretty good to be in the top 10 test batsmen of the last 5 years when you're only a slasher and hacker. 1. 897 S.P.D. Smith AUS 2. 886 V. Kohli IND 3. 854 J.E. Root ENG 4. 817 K.S. Williamson NZ 5. 791 H.M. Amla SA 6. 778 A.B. de Villiers SA 7. 772 D.A. Warner AUS Based on highest ever ranking of current batsmen, Smith just pips AB for the best bat at their best. Of that 7, Warner and Kohli only got to the 880s at their best. Root and Amla have topped 900. Williamson 890s.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
To be fair I think Davie is a reactive player. He doesn't seem to really watch too much and relies on way above average reflexes and power. That could be why he gets into so much trouble when there is movement, he's not really looking for it.
Brett McKay
Expert
*snore*
Brasstacks
Guest
"“Him leaving the ball on good areas may actually relay a message to me that there’s a bit of movement in the wicket and I have to start respecting it a little bit more and watch it closely.” So according to Warner, if his batting partner does not leave too many balls there is no movement? That is the dumbest thing I have heard any respected international cricketer say.
Don Freo
Guest
What has he called him/her? Will Warner works for me.