Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has backed David Warner to play in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at The Oval in June and also the opening leg of the Ashes 2023 in England. Warner has had a torrid run in Test cricket since the start of 2021, averaging below 39 and his returns have been modest in the last two years.
Despite scoring a double century (200) in the Melbourne Test against South Africa in December 2022 – his only Test hundred since January 2020 – Warner averaged 30.05 in 11 matches last year. In the three Tests he played this year, Warner scored only 36 runs at 9.00.
The 36-year-old Warner had in the past spoken of retiring from Test cricket to pursue shorter formats, and his involvement in the next red-ball assignment for Australia was considered questionable, especially after his poor performances in India with the bat. After. ,
However, former Australia captain and commentator Taylor has backed Warner to make the cut in the squad for the WTC final and the Ashes.
“If I’m reading the tea leaves correctly, it looks like he’ll stick with David for the World Test Championship (final) at The Oval,” Taylor told The AAP on Tuesday. That’s what I’m thinking, so yeah, they have to start with him for the Ashes.” But despite his recent struggles in red-ball cricket, Warner has delivered a forgettable campaign for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League, scoring three half-centuries to score 228 runs at 45.60 in five matches.
Taylor, who led Australia to 26 wins, 13 losses and 11 draws in 50 Tests as captain, said he would like to see right-handed opener Cameron Bancroft in the team.
“It will be very difficult for Usman Khawaja and Warner to open the batting and then make changes for the first Test at Edgbaston a week later. My old way of thinking, I’ve always preferred a right-left arm combination. So I prefer Will do.” See Cameron Bancroft get another chance at the top of the order,” Taylor said.
I see (Matt) Renshaw scoring runs in New Zealand (for Australia A), but Bancroft has piled on the runs in the Australian summer,” Taylor said.
Taylor also highlighted that opener Marcus Harris may not be preferred due to his mediocre fielding skills.
“One thing I like about Bancroft, which I also like about Renshaw, is his ability to hold ground. In the next year or two, we need to find two openers. One thing What has worried me about Marcus Harris is his fielding.
Taylor explained, “The way this series is looking to end, the fielding is going to be important. I think it will go against someone like Marcus Harris, whose fielding is not good.”