Australian cricket legend Mike Hussey believes the “challenge” of South Africa’s famed bowling attack will help David Warner “rise again” as the first day of the First Test gets underway at The Gabba.
Australia and South Africa will meet in a Test match for the first time since the infamous Sandpapergate series in 2018 which led to lengthy bans for Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft for their involvement in a ball-tampering scandal.
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It was one of several chapters in the heated historic rivalry between the two nations and there’s set to be plenty more fireworks during the Proteas’ three-Test tour in Australia.
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Warner, a notoriously feisty character himself, will look to let his cricket do the talking over the coming months and leave his off-field frustrations in the rear-view mirror.
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And Hussey has backed the opener to “come out and be positive” from the get-go against the South African attack, but noted he “hasn’t quite looked the same David Warner as we’re used to” amid several external distractions.
“I think something like the challenge of the South African bowling will help him rise again,” Hussey told Fox Sports’ The Follow-On Podcast.
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“He’s a guy that loves a contest, he loves a challenge. I’d like to see him come out and really assert his dominance and be aggressive. Come out and be positive – that’s when he plays his best cricket. And he might just do that against this South African attack, because they’re going to come hard at him and that’s sometimes when he plays his best.
“I just feel as though there’s obviously a lot of external distractions going on with David Warner at the moment. All this stuff that’s been played out off the field – I don’t care how mentally strong you are, it does just take your focus off your preparation a little bit and out of your comfort zone.
“When you’re really playing well, you’re just clear-minded, relaxed, calm and in control. But with all this stuff bubbling away in the background, it’s got to be a huge distraction for him – and I think it’s showing. He’s been a little bit unlucky with some of the dismissals, but he hasn’t quite looked the same David Warner as we’re used to.
“It’s no slight on him by saying that he probably has been affected by it a little bit.”
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
South Africa squad: Dean Elgar (capt), Temba Bavuma, Gerald Coetzee, Theunis de Bruyn, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Khaya Zondo
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