Ricky Ponting cops brutal comparison amid David Warner's batting woes
Aussie batting guru Trent Woodhill has compared David Warner's situation to that of cricket legend Ricky Ponting.
Aussie batting coach Trent Woodhill has compared David Warner's situation to that of Ricky Ponting late in his career to suggest Warner will fight his way out of a brutal form slump. Warner hasn't made a Test century in nearly three years and is averaging just 21 since the start of the Ashes series last summer.
He was unable to make it past 50 in a two-Test series against the West Indies before making 0 and 3 in the first Test against South Africa, including a golden duck in the first innings. With four Tests coming up in India in February and March before the Ashes in England starting in June, pressure is mounting on Warner to find form.
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While many have called on the Aussies to drop Warner for someone younger, Woodhill reckons a big score is just around the corner. Woodhill, who is an assistant coach for Australia's ODI side and recently worked with Warner during a three-match series against England, told The Age he is the fittest 36-year-old he's seen.
Woodhill said Warner's situation is nothing like that of Ponting, who was all at sea in the final series of his Test career against South Africa in 2012. Ponting suffered an embarrassing dismissal in that series in which he fell to the ground while being clean-bowled by Jacques Kallis. The writing was on the wall for the former Test captain and he retired at the end of the series just before his 38th birthday.
“I was expecting to have to spend a bit of time with him, but he was moving great, his feet were good, late contact,” Woodhill said about his recent session with Warner, which culminated in a century in the third ODI against England. "I am not seeing anything wrong. We know how much Ponting struggled at the back end, his footwork and eyesight, and we see how players go downhill, I am not seeing that with David.
“I feel like there are a couple of ex-players talking about the end, rather than identifying this is a guy that is fitter than any other 36-year-old that has played for his country. And I reckon he goes as long as he wants. He will come good. I reckon there is a score around the corner.”
Ricky Ponting weighs in amid David Warner dramas
Ponting weighed in on the dramas surrounding Warner during the first Test, saying the opener deserves to finish his Test career on his terms rather than 'getting a tap on the shoulder'. Ponting scored 13,378 runs at Test level at an average of 51.85. But he averaged just 6.4 in that fateful final series against the Proteas.
"He is a champion player - you never write off champion players ever," Ponting said on Channel 7. "He is going through a lean trot now - we all want to see him scoring runs. When he finishes, he deserves to go out on his term. He has been a magnificent stalwart for Australian cricket.
"He got the starts against the West Indies and didn't go on when everyone else at the top made the most of a weak West Indian side. He deserves the chance to finish the way he wants to finish.
"I would hate to see him get to an Indian tour or at the start of the Ashes tour and then get the tap on the shoulder. That would be a disappointing way for his career to end."
Teammate Steve Smith is another who thinks a big score is looming for Warner. "You only have to look back a few weeks ago, a one-day game out here against England, he scored 100 on what was a pretty tough wicket," Smith told reporters on Wednesday.
"We've seen David when his back's up against the wall, he's done pretty well. It doesn't matter what format of the game, Davey always plays in a pretty similar way, which has been the beauty of him in Test cricket, being able to take the game on from ball one. Sometimes it doesn't work, and he hasn't had a great deal of luck lately."
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