Aussie skipper makes huge call on David Warner for T20 World Cup
Australia captain Aaron Finch has all-but confirmed David Warner will be in Australia's XI for their opening game at the T20 World Cup on Saturday, despite the opener's horrible form.
Warner will enter the Aussies' tournament opener against South Africa with serious question marks over his form after a nightmare build up in Abu Dhabi.
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The opener has scored just three runs in four innings since landing in the UAE more than a month ago.
The horror run of form includes scores of 0 and 2 before being dropped by IPL side Hyderabad Sunrisers, as well as another duck and 1 in Australia's two warm-up games.
After sitting out tours of West Indies and Bangladesh earlier this year, the 14 balls Warner faced in those innings double as his only competitive cricket he has had since April.
But skipper and opening partner Finch is not deterred.
Instead, he points to Warner's knack of making runs in big tournaments after his opening partner was the second leading run-scorer in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Notably, Warner also entered that tournament without a big score in his four warm-up matches on return for Australia after his 12-month ban.
Overall, Warner has averaged above 60 for Australia in ODI World Cups, but that figure drops to 21.50 at a strike-rate of 128.88 in his five T20 World Cups.
"I'm backing Davey's ability, I'm backing his judgement," Finch said.
"If you look at his World Cup history, it's bloody good. Would he like more runs? Absolutely.
"Everyone would like more runs all the time.
"But he's one of the greatest players Australia's ever produced and I've got no doubts that come game one, he'll be up and firing, ready to go."
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Warner's starts will be crucial for Australia, with the slower wickets in the UAE making the powerplays vital in the second stage of the IPL.
Teams who won the opening six overs went on to win 74 per cent of games.
Starts were also a problem for an understrength Australia in their most recent series losses to West Indies and Bangladesh, outscored in the powerplay in eight of 10 games.
"Even though it's different surfaces to what the IPL used, we saw the impact that had," Finch said.
"The teams that won the powerplay, that went a long way to winning the game as the wickets deteriorated.
"I think the wickets first off in the tournament, will start out a little bit better, and probably be a little bit more consistent throughout that 40 overs.
"But as it gets a bit more traffic and the and the tournament gets a bit deeper, that might slow up and spin a little bit more.
"But (still) the power play is going to be crucial no doubt for both teams."
Meanwhile, Finch is confident in his own match fitness after playing both warm-up games against New Zealand and India with scores of 24 and eight respectively.
with AAP
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