Adam Gilchrist believes David Warner deserves the first chance opening for Australia at the ODI World Cup despite Mitch Marsh’s promising stint at the top of the order on the last visit to India.
Typically a middle-order batter, Marsh stepped in to open in Australia’s three-match 50-over series against India in March after an elbow injury struck Warner down.
Marsh finished the 2-1 victory as Australia’s top run-scorer and the player of the series.
He memorably scored 81 runs in the first ODI and forged a match-winning partnership in the second with fellow opener Travis Head, who appears a lock for selection at the World Cup that begins in October.
Warner returned for the third match of that series and batted fourth, contributing 23 runs to Australia’s win.
Since then, the veteran opener has pitched in a decent Ashes campaign, though not one that has dispelled all doubt as to his ability to remain in the team to begin the Test summer.
(Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)
But legendary Australia white-ball opener Gilchrist said there should be no debate about Warner’s place alongside Head at the top for the order for India.
Australia begin their preparations for the World Cup with fifty-over series against South Africa and India, with Marsh, Head and Warner all earning selection in the squad.
“You don’t take (Warner) if you’re not going to start with him and open with him,” Gilchrist told AAP. “He well and truly warrants being picked in that World Cup squad and the starting XI. He’s a World Cup winner.
“I think his knowledge and experience in India will be vitally important to the Aussies doing well.”
Gilchrist suggested Warner had proven he could thrive amid similar doubts as to his selection credentials.
Warner’s form had been patchy ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates but the veteran hit his stride at the right time, helping propel Australia to the trophy and earning selection in the team of the tournament.
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“He doesn’t mind being backed into a corner,” Gilchrist said. “That’s probably not the way he always wants it to play out but he knows how to throw a counter-punch here and there.”
A strong World Cup campaign could give Warner the momentum he needs to begin the Test summer on song and finish his international career as he hopes: With a home Test at the SCG.
“Hopefully it launches him into a summer here, or half a summer here so he can hit the point (at the SCG) that he’s suggested he wants to,” Gilchrist said.
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
No Gilly, he has been given too many chances. Many others would not have even made the Ashes tour.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
We are talking about the integrity of the selectors. Where is your evidence that they are deliberately abrogating their duty?
Jez North
Roar Rookie
Shred of evidence ? So you didn’t read his manager’s threats following the CA meeting regarding his leadership ban ?
ColinT
Roar Rookie
That is a despicable insult to the integrity of the selectors. I don’t believe for one second that they are influenced by what may or may not be in any future book that may or may not be written by David Warner. I am sick and tired of the rubbish put out by all the Warner haters out there without any shred of evidence for their vile conspiracy theories.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I really rate Turner, he seems like he can deliver in the tight situations. Also, if Carey plays (which is likely) then Inglis could come in for Maxwell as well.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
or if we have to chase down 400, open with Maxwell and MM, with Head at 3 maybe and Green at 4 (both with instruction to hit out or get out
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't drop him from the white ball teams on the basis we know he's going to retire from Test cricket soon or he's not good enough to play Tests. As for your conspiracy theory, I reckon that could come out if/when he writes the obligatory autobiography
Jez North
Roar Rookie
Just get rid of him now. We need to find replacement openers for the test side so just give a young player a go, especially for experience in foreign conditions. Marsh and Head can do the job in Nov. Selectors likely worried Warner will spill his guts on a wider involvement in SandpaperGate if he can’t go out on his own terms. He will release a book as soon as his commentary gig flops anyway so may as well get it out in the open sooner rather than later.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Funny thing about that, no one gave Australia any sort of chance in 1987 either. Same favourites, except throw in the Windies as well. What the IPL has done, is everyone is now far more experienced in India. They are taking 18 players to SA but not including Smith and Starc, so there are opportunities before the final 15 is announced. But I do think my 11+Haxlewood will be in the squad, +the other 7 to fight out the other 3 spots, Though Labuschagne and Johnson would be the longest shots as they were not in the original 18. The way I see it, it is Abbott, Hardie, Stoinis for 2 spots, Ellis, Inglis, Labuschagne, Johnson or Sangha for the 15th spot.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Yea not arguing about the batting order, at 1/150 off 30 overs, would be a good time to send Maxwell in, to face the 2nd ball of the innings, Smith might be the better choice.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Maxwell averaged 33 with a strike rate of 180 in the last IPL. 2nd best on average only you would take Maxwell figures any day of the week. Stoinis at 31 with a strike rate of 150 you can debate whether thats better than Warners figures for 3rd best.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm hoping Australia doesn't marry itself to a fixed batting lineup. The top 7 you named should be able to bat anywhere in the lineup, so who gets named at 3 or 4 should make no difference to the person who actually walks out to bat.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
It's funny that not many outside Australia would agree with your last sentence. Most seem to have it down to India & England, with smokies like Pakistan or even Bangladesh. On paper though, that's a very strng XI. My only issues with any of this team are around current form. I spent most of the past few months being told by Andrew McDonald about "how well he's hitting them in the nets" and "good form in any type of cricket is good form in all". For most of our batsmen, that didn't prove to be the case. I'm a huge fan of good recent form, which means paying close attention to how they're going in the next 5 or 6 ODIs. They all need to show selectors they have the form to carry into the WC, so hopefully they'll deliver
jammel
Roar Rookie
I agree bowledover – certainly with HOFF > Cummins. Otherwise, I think that’s about our best XI. The bigger question from my perspective is what if Maxi isn’t in form/fit/100% ready to go. We haven’t seen him playing much cricket of late. The selectors probably think this is where Stoinis comes in…but I am not so sure. Surely Turner/Marnus/Hardie/Short would be a better option for the best XI??!
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Smith v Marsh, not really an issue either way for me. Probably have Cummins in the side, because I think he will be captain but either way it is still a very good team. Carey has done nothing wrong as ODI keeper, 60 matches under his belt averaging a very respectable 35 with a decent SR of 88, I think he definitely deserves to keep his spot and being a L/H is a plus.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I dont mind this team, but note Smith usually bats 3 in ODI (though I think maybe Marsh could benefit from batting 3 and perhaps for Smith it doesnt matter as much?), Id have Hazlewood over Cummins (Hoff is I think still the leading ODI bowler) and Inglis over Carey (others may disagree).
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Can we please stop using Warner's Test form as a reason for not picking him in White Ball Cricket. It is obvious that as he is getting older, he is not picking up the red ball as quick as he used to, but does not have the same issue with the White ball. Picking on form? last IPL he scored 516 runs@36.85, SR 131.63, amongst Australians only Green had better figures. My best 11 for the WC. 1/Warner 2/Head 3/Marsh (c) 4/Smith 5/Green 6/Carey 7/Maxwell 8/Agar 9/Cummins 10/Starc 11/Zampa That is a good team, bats all the way to no10, has 7 genuine bowlers, great fielding team, has played a lot of cricket in India, I like our chances of going all the way.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
His ashes campaign was poor, wasn't even in the top 10 run scorers.. agree 100% it is no basis for his WC inclusion.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
If I was a selector, I'd pick Warner for the 3 game series against India in India next month and see what he does. If he goes well, he plays the opener against India then see what happens from there. If he doesn't make at least 2 decent scores in the lead up games, how can he be chosen? PS he didn't have a decent Ashes campaign. If he did, Australia should have won that series.
Sizefive
Roar Rookie
Use his knowledge and experience, if that’s an upside, but don’t give him a bat. Or give him one go at making a reasonable score, if he scores give him another go, if he fails it’s Sayonara Little Davy Boy, for ever. We are talking about picking 11 in form players from Australia, surely we can do that, some selection lessons must have been learned after the Ashes debacle (sorry final three games debacle).