Andrew McDonald makes massive call on David Warner's Test future

Australia's cricket coach Andrew McDonald has thrown his support behind David Warner amid growing calls for the opening batter to be dropped as a result of his worrying form at Test level. Warner's disappointing showing continued in last week's second Test against the West Indies, where he made 21 and 28 as the Aussies won by 419 runs to clean sweep the two-Test series.

Warner only managed scores of 5 and 48 in the first Test, while his top order teammates all cashed in. His inability to reach 50 means he's scored a half-century in just four of his last 26 Test innings and hasn't scored a Test century since January 2020.

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It means Warner will head into the first Test against South Africa - starting on Saturday at the Gabba - as the batter under the most pressure in Australia's starting XI. The Aussies head to India in February for four Tests before a blockbuster showdown with England for the Ashes starting in June.

Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting was among those to question the form of Warner - who has indicated his desire to play on in red-ball cricket until at least the end of next year's Ashes, having never won a Test series in India or England.

“You talk about how things are getting tougher for Warner with the attack the South Africans have got,” Ponting said. “Well, it’s never easy in India either. We know what wickets we will get there. We will get turning pitches. No doubt. It’s never been easy for any Australian batsman going there and trying to play in those conditions.

“Then on the back of that, what’s after that? The Ashes, in England as well. We will get conditions that will suit (Stuart) Broad, (James) Anderson and (Ollie) Robinson.”

Aussie cricket fans could be forgiven for questioning Warner's place in the Test side, with his average sitting at a concerning 23 in Test cricket this year. He holds a similar average (24.25) across two tours of India in 2013 and 2017, while he struggled through the 2019 Ashes in England - falling victim to the pace bowling of Stuart Broad in seven out of his 10 innings.

Speaking about his opening batter before the South Africa series, McDonald insists that Warner is still very much in the frame for February's tour of India and that his recent lack of runs is not a concern. However, the coach did admit that Warner's performance against South Africa could be key.

"At this stage, we've got him in our plans for India," McDonald said. "We'll see what happens in the next three Test matches, but at this stage he's firmly in our thoughts for India."

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Aussie teammate Steve Smith admitted that the recent controversies surrounding Warner's leadership ban had taken a toll. Last week Warner announced he was abandoning his push to overturn the lifetime ban he received for his part in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

Cricket Australia seemed willing to lift the ban and wanted Warner to continue his appeal. However the 36-year-old didn't want to put his family through a public hearing that an independent panel had insisted upon.

Regardless, in his four innings against the West Indies, Warner made scores of five, 48, 21 and 28, while three times getting out to balls wide of off stump. Like Smith though, Australia's coach said there were no concerns around Warner's ability to bounce back.

"His appetite for the work, in and around training, is still there," McDonald added. "He's busy at the crease, and you've seen signs that he is going well. He's just found different ways to get out, and sometimes that can happen. He's eager to continue on at this stage, he hasn't hinted anything else."

McDonald said he was prepared to give Warner time, as questions circulate over whether the player is finished at the top level or simply going through a poor run of form.

"If we keep picking him and he makes runs, then you know he's back. And if you keep picking him and he doesn't, then he's probably on the fade. It's as simple as that," the coach added.

Warner's series against West Indies coincided with frustration over the handling of the review into his lifetime leadership ban, which exploded on the night before the Adelaide Test.

Smith admitted on Sunday it may have distracted Warner, but McDonald said the opener had always been able to put drama to the side. "He's great at compartmentalising, separating the off-field from the on-field. Most of the great champions do that very well," McDonald insisted. "I sense this situation is not different."

with AAP

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