David Warner’s against-the-odds heroics in last year’s T20 World Cup are proof the veteran Australian opener has what it takes to emerge from his form rut in Test cricket, according to Steve Smith.
Making a golden duck and 3 in the opening Test against South Africa in Brisbane last week heaped more pressure on Warner, who’s averaged only 26 in the longest form of the game since registering his most recent century in January 2020.
Smith made a point of Warner’s magnificent T20 World Cup campaign on the cusp of the Boxing Day Test, in which the pugnacious left-hander will become just the 14th Australian to have played 100 Tests.
READ MORE: Bizarre post fuels Warner retirement rumours
READ MORE: Tigers great urges million-dollar star to avoid the club
READ MORE: ‘Unhappy’ Dally M winner eyeing NRL comeback
Five months after being replaced by Kane Williamson as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain and copping the axe from the Indian Premier League team, Warner churned out 289 World Cup runs at the average of 48.16 and strike-rate of 147 en route to being crowned player of the tournament.
“He’s probably the kind of person that wouldn’t (be brought undone by pressure),” Smith said on Wednesday.
“I think we’ve seen Davey when his back’s up against the wall — he’s done pretty well.
Cricket Australia won’t deter green pitches
“You only have to look back, I think, to the World Cup in Dubai. A lot of people were saying he was done, and I think in that Sri Lanka game he came out and made 60 and just kept going on and ended up being player of the tournament.
“So, he does pretty well when his back’s up against the wall, doesn’t he?”
As Smith defended Warner’s rocky patch in the longest form of the game, the former Test captain brushed off the fact that his glut of runs in the Middle East had come in 20-over cricket.
Warner caught for a golden duck
“It doesn’t matter which format of the game (he’s playing); Davey always plays a pretty similar way, which I think has been the beauty of him in Test cricket, as well, to be able to take the game on from ball one,” Smith said.
“Sometimes it doesn’t work.
“He hasn’t had a great deal of luck lately, as well, which you need sometimes, particularly when you’re playing on wickets like the one last week (at the Gabba).
“He’s batting well and fingers crossed he can have a big week.”
Warner’s standing as an Australian batting great is assured despite his dire run of late and regardless of how the remainder of his career pans out.
Warner sparks confusion with cryptic Bali post
The New South Welshman has scored 7922 Test runs at the average of 45.52, including 34 centuries.
He’s sitting in eighth on the list of highest Test run-scorers by Australians and ninth on the list of most tons.
“He’s had an incredible career, hasn’t he?” Smith said.
“In all formats of the game … the way he’s been able to play at the top of the order, take the game on, get us off to really good starts … (he’s) sort of broken the mould, I guess, of that traditional, old-school opener (who) takes the shine off the new ball, off the back of Michael Slater … and Matthew Hayden.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
FIFA World Cup 2022 in pictures: Incredible overhead images show scope of fan celebrations in Buenos Aires
