Usman Khawaja, an Australian batting legend, thinks David Warner is likely playing at his peak as he gets ready for the challenging English summer, which includes the Ashes and the World Test Championship final against India. Warner, 36, had a challenging tour in India earlier this year, and despite leading Delhi Capitals to victory in the IPL with 516 runs from 14 games, he will face a challenge in the seaming English conditions. Khawaja gave Warner a strong recommendation, saying the veteran was “looking good” for the challenges ahead although he was likely on his last tour of England.
“I have seen him (Warner) bat in the last couple of days, and, I don’t want to jinx him, but he is looking good,” Khawaja was cited as saying by the ICC.
Though the selectors have also chosen Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw as possibilities, Khawaja believes that if Warner is in the playing XI, he will give it his all. Warner was included in Australia’s squad for the WTC final and the first two Ashes Tests.
“I think he is looking in the nets the best he has in a while. Although it doesn’t always result in runs, if there was ever a chance that Davey Warner would score runs, this might be it. He always performs at his peak when he is up against it, too, Khawaja continued.
David Warner has struggled to score runs in recent assignments, making just 26 runs in three Test innings during the recent tour of India before returning home injured. Warner’s only notable performance in recent assignments is a superb double hundred against South Africa last December.
With England quick Broad dominating the 36-year-old, he also had a disappointing Ashes campaign, returning with an average of 9.50, the poorest ever for an opener playing in 10 innings.
“We watched when he scored a double century in his 100th game when everyone was giving up on him and declaring it to be his final game, and he went out and got 200. “You never write off a great player, so I am expecting runs,” Khawaja added.
Warner said he would probably stick to his duty during the Tests rather than engage in any pre-Ashes banter with England bowlers, especially Broad, who during the previous Ashes in England limited the Australian to just 95 runs at an average under 10.
“I won’t be participating in any of that [banter] because it only serves to promote headlines and the sale of papers. Warner said of the Ashes series, which will begin on June 16 in Edgbaston, “I will leave it to themselves to decide.”
“There isn’t much joking around in the field right now. It just comes down to playing good cricket and competing against one another. Nowadays, it is much more linked than it was in the past, which is fantastic for the game, he continued.
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