David Warner should not be in the World Cup squad that travels to the UK in late May.
The 32-year-old’s on-field exploits are well documented – Warner has been the most explosive and damaging batsman Australia has had in its ranks since Adam Gilchrist revolutionised the wicketkeeper-batsman role in the early 2000s.
His current run in the Indian Premier League has been spectacular, making headlines all over the world for his batting craft and consistent performances.
Coming off his 12-month ban, the only cricket Warner has been able to play has been in the shortest format of the game, and his form has been impressive.
Yet calls for Warner to be a lock for the Australian line-up come the World Cup are flawed.
The suspension itself may or may not cause fractures within the dressing room, however the argument that he should not be in the squad goes beyond that.
Scoring runs in the last fortnight has masked the value of David Warner to Australian ODI cricket.
Naturally, recency bias writes headlines and drives opinion.
Put simply, prior to the suspension, Warner’s spot in the country’s best ODI side was questionable.
His prolific 2016-17 season, where he scored 1100 at an average of 78.6, was followed by a painfully mediocre 2017-18, averaging just 31.8, which was inflated by a single performance of 124 against India.
(Photo by Paul Kane – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)
There was a certain section of the Australian cricket fan base that was questioning why Warner was one of the first picked players at the time.
We are in 2019 and David Warner has just returned to playing cricket, exclusively playing in the shortest format of the game.
Australian cricket will be able to handle Warner’s re-inclusion at some stage, but a longer period of sustained high-level performances is surely necessary.
What Warner stands to offer the Australian team is no different to what any other player in the existing line-up provides.
The main positive aspect of the Australian cricket team over the last eight ODIs has been the performances by the top four batsmen.
The whitewash of Pakistan should be taken with a grain of salt, but what is clear is that Australia has a plethora of top-order players who are highly confident in their abilities.
Usman Khawaja is currently Australia’s best ODI batsman, Aaron Finch defied all odds and scored more than 400 runs in a five-game series, Shaun Marsh is playing well and has an excellent record in the UK, while Glenn Maxwell is the X-factor Australia can capitalise on.
Heading into the World Cup, there is simply no need for Warner to be included.
He has a poor record playing in England, averaging 31 in ODIs, and has only shown an ability to bat at the top of the order.
There are a number of other options Australia should look towards if there is a top-order malfunction in the World Cup, or a change in the squad is required.
D’Arcy Short’s absence has been baffling and should be next in line for any position.
Alex Carey returning to the top of the order would also be a preferred move than the hasty inclusion of Warner, as would the flexible Shaun Marsh.
Finch has now cemented his spot in the team, which may have been the one opportunity for Warner to sneak back into the set-up.
World Cup squads are generally made up of 15 players, leaving room for just four extra players to travel with the team.
Of course, teams can exploit this and make moves as they feel necessary, but including Warner feels like a slap to the face of any domestic cricketer who put together strong showings in the BBL or the JLT one-day series at the start of the summer, or impressed in limited international opportunities.
It would be a waste to rush the 32-year-old back in, only to have him batting at five or six in a new role on the grandest stage for all ODI cricket.
(Photo: AAP)
The time and opportunities are better spent on players who have worked hard to earn international selection and seeing players like Ashton Turner or Ben McDermott get the opportunity to feature in the World Cup squad would place Australia in a far better situation overall.
We shouldn’t see Steve Smith in the squad, and that comes on the back of very little cricket and a need to have him ready for the Ashes.
Just because Warner is available and currently playing well in the IPL does not mean the Australian selectors should create a non-existent space for a player with questionable credentials.
Australia is currently tracking along reasonably in ODI cricket and will enter the World Cup with great confidence in its ability to construct a batting innings.
Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but there is no pay-off to unreasonably rushing players in and jeopardising an already volatile team.
David Warner still has a future at the international level, but it simply makes no sense for it to commence at the 2019 ICC World Cup.
Parmanand kripal
Guest
I have been following Australian cricket for almost 30 years and with the ball tampering came great surprise. However I don’t see a better opener presently to represent Aussies despite others form recently.......this is the World Cup, that alone is pressure, Warner and likewise Smith loves the big stage. Hence their inclusion alone makes opposing team go to the drawing board again and again. I have no doubt that should Australia defend their title and wins this for the 6th time, which they have a squad to do......Warner and Smith will definitely have a say.
sally giel
Guest
I believe the bigger issue is why are Warner and Smith even being considered at all for the World Cup team having been caught cheating!? Parking the ridiculous decision to give Bancroft a leadership role in Durham let's look at the message which the australian selectors are giving the supporters by contemplating these two. By considering them the message is clear - "Its okay to cheat, if you get caught just wait out your ban and you can join the team and represent your country again, no problem." Its appalling. Having watched yesterday's IPL games, i also found it astonishing that the the austrialian sports commentators seem to go out of their way to complement Smith on his performance, seemingly when not that necessary. One must wonder if there has there been an instruction to subliminally send a message out that all is good in world of sport and that the 3 cheaters are fabulous! And lately we keep seeing repeats of Shane Warne's support of the 3 banned cricketers, calling for understanding blah blah. Remind me again, who is Shane Warne? Oh yes he is the other cheating Australian cricketer! And what about the message it gives the current Australian team? These chaps have played a brilliant season, made australian cricket enjoyable to watch again and the ban allowed for likes of Glen Maxwell to show the world his stuff. Now selectors say, thanks chaps for an awesome season but step aside as the cheaters need to be given positions. Yes i know, we must forgive and forget. But lets not forget that these individuals are paid a handsome sum and represent the values and image of their country. They are heroes to the future cricketers and the younger generation. So no, if you have to cheat to win then please step aside, stand down and let others who play sport as a sportsman lead the way. Sally Namibia
Extra Short Leg
Roar Rookie
A player with Warner's record and ability would, and should, walk into most international ODI teams. His conduct before the suspension was out of control, but there were several other factors at play, notably CA's pressure to win at all costs.
peter chrisp
Guest
I must admit with the suspensions now "over" for both players this no doubt will be an issue. Is Warner automatic selection? With our recent winnings why change a good side? We all know what he is capable of & to a lesser extent Smith? Both players can change a game at the blink of an eye. With Finch & Ussie who have done quite well, If Warner is selected does that suggest Finch will get the boot?
David Warner
Guest
I'll be back don't you worry son.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
Appreciate the feedback Keith. My view is that if you aren’t a proven high performer in the last two years, you cannot be treated as such in the present. IPL runs are great in a different format of the game and it will likely give him confidence for the future. However, Australia has chosen to stick with a largely settled ODI series, and squeezing Warner in for the hope can recapture his form from when he wasn’t quite 30yo. The team is volatile enough as it is, not sure now, when there’s a semblance of stability, is the time for this selection.
keith hurst
Roar Pro
Everybody is entitled to their opinion which must be respected. But once you try to justify it that is where you become unstuck. Putting an untested player into a world cup squad instead of a proven high performer makes no sense unless your real purpose is to exclude he and Smith because of past crimes If this is the reason say it. Roar articles are usually carefully written and justified with sound reasoning. I don't think that your article meets that test. Sorry! Keith Hurst
Gee
Roar Rookie
I would have Warner in, not only does he have a top strike rate he can hits big tons. Something that gets over looked about Smith and Warner is that they are very good fielders, that will be important in the WC.
Neel
Roar Guru
Warner is too valuable a player to not be included. His fielding also saves you 10-20 runs. Batting wise, we know what his capabilities are and it wouldn’t be wise not to include him. If he stays for more than 20 overs, more likely than not, Australia will end win up winning.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Not that the actual selectors do that great a job, example: Mitchell Marsh's 30 tests.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
lol,
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
"....but a longer period of sustained high-level performances is surely necessary....." - It should be this way, but can anyone make sense of selector decisions. How many players have come and gone through knee jerk reactions. IMO, Warner was disruptive before and should never be back regardless.
Paul Herring
Guest
What exactly are you saying in English, Manuel?
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Warner will have an amazing world cup. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up winning player of the tournament. The other factor that hasn't been mentioned either is how good a fieldsmen Warner is. Particularly when you compare him to Khawaja and SMarsh (who should both be in the squad). When you have Warner and Maxwell both out there you start to make opposition batsmen nervous running between the wickets.
Terrance
Guest
Hey relax guy, lets look for treasure...
concerned supporter
Roar Rookie
Author, Ben McDermott???? You are crazy
Vince
Guest
Good God man invest in some punctuation!
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
If u think Carey and Marsh are better options opening than Warner, ur having a laugh.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
"including Warner feels like a slap to the face of any domestic cricketer who put together strong showings in the BBL or the JLT one-day series at the start of the summer, or impressed in limited international opportunities" So has Warner's entire 10+ year professional career thus far accounted for nothing? He had a mediocre average in 1 series against the world's best ODI team - where, I emphasise, everyone failed. In any case, he's certainly achieved more than Turner and McDermott have achieved in basically half a dozen internationals apiece.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Aha, that makes sense. Thanks.