Ashes Scout: Warner's exit plan 'bloody manipulative' but can fire him up says Cowan, mystery grows over Smith's future

Former Australian batter Ed Cowan has described the retirement plan of his former opening partner, David Warner, as “bloody manipulative” but believes it can trigger the struggling veteran to save his Test career.

The co-host of the ABC Grandstand Cricket Podcast was taken aback when Warner said his plan was to play on until the SCG Test in the new year and then retire from the red-ball arena before bowing out after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Cowan said his initial reaction was that it was “bloody manipulative” but went on to say that his response was more nuanced than that but also added that Warner only has the World Test Championship and the first couple of Ashes matches at the most to prove that he can still cut it at that level.

Warner has been in an extended form slump for the past two years in Tests, apart from his double-century at the MCG in December.

“The first thing that happens is it’s now on the selectors to drop him,” Cowan said when explaining why he thought Warner’s statement was manipulative in a way. “I think it’s his way of setting up to excite himself for the future.

“And we’ve seen when he gets up for a big occasion like he did for his 100th Test what’s possible, so there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“He only needs to be motivated for six more Test matches away and then five at home so in his mind, it’s his way of saying ‘right mate, you’ve only got 11, let’s give this absolutely every ounce of energy’.

“I think it’s very clear to him that if he doesn’t score runs, he’s out of the team.”

While the sentiment is strong, Cowan’s maths leave something to be desired. The Australians have six overseas Tests before the three-game series against Pakistan, giving Warner nine more games if goes according to his plan.

Cowan went on to say if he does make it to a farewell Test on his home track in Sydney, it’d be great news for Australian cricket.

“It’d be fantastic for him to be able to sign off in Sydney,” he said before adding he the selectors will have to act early in the Ashes series if Warner is still below his best.

“I wouldn’t say it’s Test by Test but if he gets two ducks in the next Test match, look out. He better get some in that first Test otherwise I think he’s done.”

Smith’s future still up in the air

Steve Smith insists he is no clearer about a path to retirement from Test cricket and says taking a lead from fellow veteran David Warner is not an option.

Australia face a changing of the guard in the coming years, with Warner the first player to announce retirement plans.

In confirming he wants to finish up midway through the next Australian summer, Warner became the first active member of the national Test team to announce his retirement since Mitchell Johnson in 2015.

At 34, Smith is two years younger than Warner but they are among a group of celebrated stars in their 30s who have been the backbone of the Australian side for several seasons.

(Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Smith indicated in January his retirement could be imminent, admitting in Sydney he may have played his last Test on home soil before later going back on the comments.

But when asked if he had any clarity about his future on Monday ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) showdown with India following Warner’s announcement, Smith said: “No”.

Asked if he wanted to elaborate further, Smith repeated: “No”.

Warner’s retirement plans have put selectors in a tricky position, with the opener no guarantee to hold his spot through the Ashes series after a lean three-year period with the bat.

Smith backed Warner’s decision to make a clear call on when he wanted to bow out, with Warner planning to make the SCG Test against Pakistan in January his last.

“It’s nice to have an end date, I suppose, if that’s the way you want to go,” Smith said. 

“But ultimately for all of us we’ve going to be doing our job and for batters that is scoring runs. 

“In an ideal world, I think Davey said that’s when he’d like to pick it up. But we’ve got to score runs, all of us. So we’ll see what happens.”

Steve Smith and David Warner rest in a drinks break during day two of the Second Test against South Africa at Melbourne in December. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

While retirement is not a topic Smith wants to embrace, he is worried about the future of Test cricket.

The WTC final and Ashes series are being played amid fears over the viability of the long-format game against the rise of global franchise contracts across multiple leagues.

“I am slightly concerned,” Smith said. “Hopefully Test cricket still stays alive and well. 

“I think it’s in a good place at the moment in terms of some of the games we’ve seen recently have been pretty amazing. 

“As a traditionalist and someone that loves Test cricket, I hope it still remains at the front of all the boards’ minds and stays alive and well for some time to come.”

Australia add Flower to touring bunch

Australia have signed Andy Flower as a coaching consultant on tour in England in what could be an astute signing given his knowledge of the conditions and the home team.

The former Zimbabwe batter was England’s coach for five years, winning three Ashes series during his stint, and knows several of the current players back to front, particularly captain Ben Stokes, key batter Joe Root and veteran seamers Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

He has arrived with the camp before Wednesday’s World Test Championship final against India at The Oval and will return for the latter half of the Ashes, according to Cricbuzz.

The 55-year-old, who played 63 Tests and 213 ODIs for Zimbabwe, is a sought-after coach on the T20 circuit and guided Lucknow to the IPL playoffs this year.

Andy Flower. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/PA Images via Getty Images)

Moeen may come out of retirement

Moeen Ali is considering the possibility of reversing his Test retirement after Jack Leach’s injury left England short of an experienced spinner for the Ashes.

Moeen, 35, has not played red-ball cricket since September 2021 but has found his name thrust back into the conversation after Leach was ruled out for the summer by a stress fracture in his lower back.

The PA news agency understands Moeen is weighing up whether or not to make a dramatic return over the next couple of days.

England are not without slow bowling options, with Surrey’s Will Jacks, Leicestershire’s rising star Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson all offering different skills. However, none can match the experience of a seasoned Test player with 64 caps and 195 wickets under his belt.

Head coach Brendon McCullum previously tried to tempt the all-rounder back into the fray for the historic tour of Pakistan but, after initially declaring himself open to the idea, Moeen ultimately decided to stick to limited-overs cricket.

Now the same offer is back on the table in the form of one last shot at Australia. With the series getting under way at Moeen’s home ground of Edgbaston on June 16, time is short, but the England and Wales Cricket Board are unlikely to rush for a quick verdict.

Moeen Ali. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Announcing his decision not to take up McCullum’s offer of taking part in the Pakistan trip, Moeen said last year: “I want to enjoy my cricket and it wouldn’t be fair to reverse my decision and then struggle to give it my all. It’s time to close the door on that side of my career. To play 64 tests for England has been a privilege and a dream fulfilled.”

He had earlier taken a different tone, hinting that he could be persuaded to re-enter the fray, telling PA and the Guardian last June: “Baz messaged me asking if I was in. Maybe in the future, potential tours or whatever, who knows? I said ‘Call me at the time’. If and when he calls me, we’ll chat.”

If he did throw himself into the maelstrom of an Ashes summer, Moeen would need to be certain he had the necessary mental and physical energy to take on a side against whom he has some difficult experiences but, perhaps, unfinished business.

The leadership style of McCullum and captain Ben Stokes may prove a real draw in his deliberations. Moeen’s naturally aggressive style, with both ball and bat, chimes perfectly with the current environment and the chance to make his own mark on the ‘Bazball’ era could be persuasive.

Stuart Broad, a contemporary of Moeen’s who has been revitalised by the set-up over the last year, can already see a neat fit.

He told Sky Sports: “We know Mo is a phenomenal cricketer and someone who would fit into Stokes and Baz’s philosophy beautifully.

“I don’t know if he’s being considered by the selectors or if he would consider red-ball cricket again, but he’s a mighty fine cricketer.”

England have held off naming an addition to the squad, having originally expected to make an early call, leaving the ball in Moeen’s court.

India coy on Warner plan

India coach Rahul Dravid says removing David Warner cheaply in the World Test Championship final will not be as simple as copying Stuart Broad’s 2019 tactics.

Warner will enter Wednesday’s final at The Oval under immense pressure, as he fights to make an early selection statement ahead of next week’s start to the Ashes.

The left-hander endured a torrid 2019 Ashes series on his last red-ball visit to England, scoring 95 at an average of 9.5 and having 61 of those runs come in one innings.

Warner has been adamant this week he is a different batsman now to in 2019, willing to play more attacking rather than the defensive mindset he took into the last Ashes tour.

But still, there is a template set up by England from four years ago for India to operate with.

Warner was dismissed seven times by Broad in 10 innings, as the English seamer came around the wicket to him and beat him on both sides of the bat.

India and Australia have made a point to study footage of their rivals playing in England, given conditions at The Oval will be significantly different to where they have met in the past.

Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Despite that, Dravid did not expect Warner to be a sitting target for his quicks.

“He’s a class player. It’s not as simple as just turning up and bowling around the wicket and getting him out,” Dravid said. 

“He wouldn’t’ have played 100 Tests if it was that simple.

“The batsmen know exactly what you’re looking at. There’s nowhere to hide any more, everyone has very similar information about each other. 

“It’s just how you counter that. 

“David has been very successful at doing that. We know it’s a very important wicket to get early on.”

India will go in with at least three seamers, with both Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj certain to play alongside spinning-allrounder Ravindra Jadeja.

A call will then be made on whether to play both Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur in a four-pronged pace attack, or leave one of the pair out for veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Oval has generally been one of the drier wickets in England that suit spin, but the fact this is the first June Test in the ground’s history has both sides expecting more grass and seam movement.

Ashes countdown: Days to go …

10

Wickets in an innings taken by English spinner Jim Laker in the Manchester Test of the 1956 series. After bagging 9-37 in the first innings, he went one better in the second with 10-53. 

His 19 wickets for the match remains a record while only two other players, Indian tweakers Anil Kumble and Axar Patel, have taken a 10-wicket haul in an innings.

On This Day … 

June 6 –