If David Warner still wants to get on the tours to India and England before retiring, he simply has to score runs in the next two Tests.
Runs are at a premium for Warner and he needs to turn his form around to avoid the dreaded tap on the shoulder from selectors.
He was out for three in what was the second and final day of the Test at the Gabba and mind you, he wasn’t the only batter to be brought undone by the pitch.
He’s got to get runs or the selectors will look elsewhere. Whether he makes the call himself, I’m not sure but it’s now at a stage where he has to produce with the bat to show he is worth taking to India, where he only averages 24, and England, where he’s been only slightly better at 26 from his 13 Tests.
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It was tough going for all batters in Brisbane apart from Travis Head’s magnificent 92.
(Photo by Chris Hyde – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
I likened him to Adam Gilchrist in my column yesterday and if the Aussies didn’t have his run-a-ball innings, the result could have been reversed with the Proteas’ pacemen leading them to victory in the series opener.
He’s a unique player and his runs in the first innings were worth their weight in gold. Not only has he stamped his class on that No.5 spot, he’s enhancing his reputation with every knock.
He played smart and he’s a much-improved player the second time round in his Test career and developing into a real trump card for Australia.
Head’s gone to another level. Just like last summer in the Ashes when he peeled off a couple of match-winning hundreds, he’s getting runs when the times are tough.
Whatever the opposite of a flat-track bully is, that’s what he’s become. A tough-pitch maestro? A tricky-wicket magician? If you’ve got a better term than that for me, post it in the comments below.
And his form on seaming wickets is a good sign for the future, especially the Ashes tour next year where England’s pitches will seam around a bit. They generally bowl well to the left-handers and he’ll get tested but he can go into that series with a lof of confidence based on knocks like this one.
This pitch was not up to Test standard, there’s no doubt about that.
I like to see the poor old bowlers get a helping hand from the curators every now and then but you want a surface that’s going to have Tests at least going into the fourth day.
Travis Head of Australia bats. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
We all knew from day one that this was never going to be a five-day Test because there was 10mm of grass on the wicket and it’s a good thing Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Perth was grassy but it was a little bit too flat and not as hard underneath. The Gabba looked like it was quicker and bouncier so the batters couldn’t adjust their shots.
You want a pitch where everyone has a chance to do well from the batters to the quicks to the spinners. This one was way too much in favour of the seamers.
The MCG pitch has been juiced up a bit the past few years as well so that one could be a tough one for the batters as well. It will still have assistance for the bowlers but hopefully the G provides better options for both bat and ball than the Gabba pitch.
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WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Travis was most disappointing. As a Saffer supporter. Just kidding, ???? % agree, tough times bring out the best in tough people. Let's hope proteas put up better batting in the boxing day match
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
While you're around, I guess it lives on.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why Renshaw ahead of Bancroft? Why Hunt ahead of Whiteman?
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I think there is a lot of selfishness going on for some time now. Why else would Australia not have made the Windies follow on and on many other occasions in recent memory. It is so players can chase personal milestones...or Warner's case, try to get some runs.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
And here's me thinking that no one trolled anymore...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's not the argument. You know that.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He'll be dropped very soon. Just let him play his 100th test. If we can carry NSW bowlers who are no longer the best quicks in the country, we can carry an opener who is no longer the best opener in the country. Khawaja is in trouble too.
My View
Guest
Sorry Don, but if the selectors are retaining players because they are great servants, (as opposed to being able to score some runs for the team), then they aren’t doing their job in my opinion. Same thing for the number of tests played. Nothing against the guy, but 99 tests is a pretty good career. It’s supposed to be a team game, not a player benefit event. Thinking about it, if there hadn’t been that unfortunate hiccup in SA a couple of years ago, resulting in him missing quite a few games, he would have passed 100 tests long ago anyway.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you look, you'll notice what I was talking about. No one cares what you're talking about if all you want to do is argue and call names. Wrong site for kiddy stuff.
Chum
Roar Rookie
What on earth is your point? I make the comment about something Warner does on-field that shows he's not the player he was - you reference a player who stopped playing 70 years ago, has been dead for 20, and when I rightly point out he retired after he got a 2 ball duck (coming off 173* in the test before I might add) - you glissando to the 1970's and world series cricket Honestly, you are a crank. A useless doddering old fogey who has more time than sense. I can smell the mothballs on you through the screen.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Oh I don't think so. He almost ruined Australian cricket in administration. Kerry Packer, thankfully, broke his hold.
Chum
Roar Rookie
At least that Don had the good sense to know when he was getting old and past it.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Interesting By Its Absence. Has anyone seen a list of the 'Longest Period/Number of Failures By A Specialist Batsman'? There is no justification for giving Warner any more Tests.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
If he wasn't a Sinney boy he'd have had his contract torn up years ago.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Because he’s been such a great servant. Averaging 45 and in his 99th test. Could you let us know what his average has to get down to before he can be dropped? George
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
I think Warner’s best option is to have a great send off at McG and scg... Apparently, CA is planning a celebration of his 100th Test at the MCG. So no pressure on the selectors to keep him for the Boxing Day Test at all...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
A bit like Bradman whenever he failed.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Bancroft higher still.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Because he's been such a great servant. Averaging 45 and in his 99th test. What are you? Cricket's version of Scrooge?
Warren Turner
Roar Rookie
Renshaw