The improbable case for axing David Warner

1 year ago 78

Australia has taken a squad of 18 players overseas in an effort to execute thing they haven't successful 19 years - triumph a Test bid successful India.

From that database of 18, selectors volition request to settee connected a last XI up of the bid opener successful Nagpur connected February 9.

Mitchell Starc has been ruled retired of the archetypal lucifer with injury, and six others volition articulation him connected the bench.

These are the biggest questions hanging implicit the line-up.

IS WARNER A SHOO-IN?

No 1 tin contradict David Warner has done capable implicit the people of his vocation to person the courtesy of ending it connected his ain terms.

But the No.1 precedence for Australian coaches and selectors must, astatine each times, beryllium to triumph Test series.

And the harsh world is Warner historically struggles to execute successful India.

From 8 matches successful the cricket huffy federation helium averages lone 24.25, with a precocious people of 71. That pales successful examination to his wide Test mean of 46.20, and his mean connected location ungraded of 58.39.

The lone spot wherever his mean is worse is New Zealand (13.00 from 2 matches).

Warner has besides been stuck successful a signifier rut, contempt a treble period against South Africa successful Melbourne which was his archetypal triple-figure people successful astir 3 years.

Australia has taken gangly top-order batter Matthew Renshaw to the subcontinent successful a motion helium looms arsenic the semipermanent replacement for Warner successful the opening spot.

Renshaw, 26, played 4 matches successful India during his archetypal Test stint successful 2017, scoring 2 half-centuries for an mean of 29.00.

While that fig isn't importantly higher than Warner's average, Renshaw has developed and improved arsenic a batter since that circuit six years ago.

If selectors bash presumption Renshaw arsenic a genuine semipermanent opener, it indispensable beryllium a information to bring him successful to spouse Usman Khawaja connected this tour.

Warner hints astatine status plan

WILL GREEN PLAY?

Young all-rounder Cameron Green has enactment a owe connected Australia's No.6 spot, but a digit wounded threatens to regularisation him retired of the bid opener successful Nagpur.

An aggravated Anrich Nortje accelerated shot broke Green's digit successful Melbourne, but helium has flown to India successful the anticipation of playing a relation for the Aussies.

"We conscionable privation to marque definite we acceptable up each our players up for occurrence and determination isn't overmuch clip near from present to the four-week check-in astir his digit to the commencement of that trial match," manager Andrew McDonald said earlier this week.

"We'll spot however helium goes successful the build-up and marque that determination erstwhile we get connected the crushed successful India."

Green's lack is simply a stroke for the squad fixed helium is simply a precise useful bowler, and a weapon batter too.

None of the different bowlers picked are arsenic accomplished with the bat arsenic helium is, and nary different specializer batter successful the touring enactment tin vessel astatine his pace.

WILL MURPHY GET A DEBUT?

Not galore cricket fans astir the state had heard of Todd Murphy until helium was a daze enactment successful this squad.

The bespectacled 22-year-old is present connected the verge of wearing a baggy greenish arsenic selectors mull implicit their bowling attack.

He is 1 of lone 2 uncapped players successful the squad, alongside velocity demon Lance Morris.

Murphy has lone 7 first-class games to his name, and has taken 29 Sheffield Shield wickets for Victoria astatine 25.20.

One of the things moving against a Murphy debut is he's an off-spinner - arsenic is Nathan Lyon, who is assured his spot successful the XI.

"Todd Murphy spins the shot the aforesaid mode arsenic Nathan Lyon, truthful that would beryllium thing that hasn't been done before, picking 2 frontline off-spinners and taking into relationship you besides person Travis Head," manager Andrew McDonald said.

"But helium wouldn't beryllium retired of spot astatine that level."

Australia is hoping Murphy is 1 time capable to capable the gaping spread that Lyon, present 35, volition inevitably permission behind.

HOW MANY SPINNERS?

It's the question connected everyone's lips starring up to the archetypal Test successful Nagpur adjacent week.

Indian wickets are highly conducive to rotation bowling and the Aussies person taken 4 specializer tweakers connected the level to the subcontinent.

They besides person Travis Head who tin vessel off-spin, arsenic good arsenic Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith who crook it the different mode with their wrist.

Consider Nathan Lyon a fastener successful the side.

Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson, and the uncapped Todd Murphy are the 3 vying for a spot successful the team.

Murphy is the astonishment packet and appears acceptable for a Test debut - either successful the archetypal lucifer oregon astatine immoderate signifier during the bid - aft being a daze enactment successful the squad.

Agar and Swepson crook it the other mode to Lyon and Murphy - Agar with his near arm, Swepson with his close - and truthful connection a constituent of quality for skipper Pat Cummins during a match.

Australia utilized Swepson successful conjunction with Lyon connected tours to Pakistan and Sri Lanka past year, portion Agar was recalled to the squad for the caller Sydney Test but went wicketless, and was mostly underwhelming.

"We consciousness similar erstwhile we get connected that level we'll person large options for the skipper and the selectors to enactment done and enactment connected the park," McDonald said.

FULL AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Pat Cummins (captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

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