Arguably the best Test opener of his generation, David Warner vows to go back to the method that brought him success as he looks to break through the lean patch. Ahead of his 100th Test in baggy green, the player said playing aggressive style has brought him success over the years and he vows to go back to it to get out of the rough patch.
The left hand batter is just 78 runs away from the 8000-run club in Test cricket. Warner has 24 centuries to his credit in this format but hasn’t passed three figures for nearly three years. Hours away from the Boxing Day Test, he believes bringing out the old Warner is just what he needs to get out of this rough patch.
“I know when I’m at my best, I’m taking the bowlers on. It goes well and it flows with the team and the guy at the other end. Now I’ve probably gone a bit more responsible and trying to put the team into a good position without playing a bit rash,”
he said on Saturday.
Warner has been circumspect with his batting in recent times and it can be seen by his strike rate of 57.21 in the last three years. His career rate, on the other hand, reads a staggering 71.18. His troubles aren’t restricted to the scoring rate either but the volume has been concerning.
The Australian averages just 26.07 with only four half-centuries in the last 15 Tests and hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 10 Test innings.
Warner added that his struggles have a bit to do with the surfaces they have played on in recent times and he has had to adapt to those.
“The last two years our wickets have been green. If I go out there play a cover drive and nick one, you guys [the media] will have a feeding frenzy. But now I’m in good positions and I’m nicking off, that’s the nature of the beast. This might be a wicket where I can go out and play like the old me. So you have to adapt to those conditions. That’s what I’ve been doing the last 18 months.”
