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David Warner will seek to break a century drought that extends more than 1000 days when he takes to the field in Adelaide on Thursday for the second Test against the West Indies.
The 36-year-old, who on Wednesday released a blistering statement withdrawing his appeal against a Cricket Australia leadership ban, last posted three figures in Test cricket on January 3, 2020 against New Zealand, a frustrating 1070 day wait for someone with such a commanding record.
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Speaking to The Follow On Podcast from Fox Cricket, Australian legend Allan Border said Warner may be “overthinking” things.
“With one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket, it looks like he just goes out there and plays the ball on its merits,” he said.
“He’s going to be naturally aggressive, so maybe he’s trying to be overly aggressive – that’s what it seems to me. He’s a bit more agitated at the crease than he normally is when he’s in peak form.
“Maybe he just needs to take a deep breath and just ‘see it hit it’ type scenario. Don’t muddle up because it’s a Test match.
“It’s also not a red ball coming at him this time, don’t forget, it’s a pink one. It shouldn’t hold any great fears for him because he has had some success in those pink ball tests.
Border said Warner’s approaching retirement, something the combative left-hander has himself acknowledged, could be playing a factor in his mindset.
“He’s got a lot of experience and I think what happens as you get older and you’re getting close to the end – and he’s sort of acknowledged that – maybe you start overthinking things when the final day is going to pop up.”
Steve Smith, meanwhile. will captain Australia after skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out due to injury Wednesday.
Scott Boland will replace the pace spearhead, who has been nursing a mild thigh problem and did not bowl on the last two days of the opening Test in Perth that Australia won by 164 runs.
Cummins had expressed confidence in being fit for the second day-night Test in Adelaide that begins Thursday but has not recovered in time.
“Team medical staff commenced Cummins’ recovery in Adelaide but selectors deemed there was not sufficient time for the fast bowler to be fully fit for the match,” Cricket Australia said.
Warner withdraws from ‘public lynching’ | 02:30
Cummins also missed last year’s Adelaide Test against England as a close Covid-19 contact, with vice-captain Smith standing in as skipper on that occasion as well.
Boland played in the Ashes campaign, taking an incredible 6-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but was overlooked for successive overseas tours this year.
Australia play five Tests this summer, with three against South Africa after the West Indies, and face a huge 2023. Cummins said on Sunday he was conscious that he has a lot of bowling ahead.
“I don’t think he was too far away (from playing) and he will continue to build this week,” Smith said of Cummins.
“But with what’s coming up, a big series against South Africa and then Tests in India, there’s a lot of cricket.
“I think we’ve made the right call and he’ll be fine to go for the next Test match I’m sure.” Smith was Australia’s full-time captain across all three formats of the game before his downfall during the infamous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town in 2018, and he brings a lot of experience.
Smith to captain as Cummins ruled out | 03:50
“I have to do it my own way, I can’t be someone else,” he said of the captaincy. “I am pretty chilled.” Australia were too good even without Cummins bowling in the West Indies’ second innings in Perth, with Nathan Lyon shouldering the burden. Lyon ended with 6-128 despite the wicket offering little for spinners.
The world’s top-ranked side head into this week’s clash with an ominous record in pink ball Tests, having won all nine they have contested — six of them at Adelaide Oval.
The West Indies have their own injury worries, with top-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner suffering a concussion in Perth. It is unclear whether he will be fit to play this week.
Their pace attack is also struggling, with Kyle Mayers (shoulder strain) unable to bowl in the Perth second innings, while Kemar Roach limped off with a hamstring niggle. Jayden Seales has also been battling knee pain.
Anderson Phillip is the first-choice back-up bowler but the uncapped Marquino Mindley could also play after arriving in Adelaide from his homeland on Tuesday as cover.
“You’ve still got to stay positive,” West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick told reporters.
“We are playing the best team in the world, and we just want to grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible.”
Australian squad
1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Scott Boland
West Indies squad (possible)
1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Kyle Mayers, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Roston Chase, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach/Anderson Phillip, 11 Jayden Seales/Marquino Mindley
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