Down but never out — the phrase that has come to define the timeless Australian opener David Warner. With questions regarding his age ever looming, David Warner went out to prove once and for all that age is a number yet again, as he put on a trailblazing batting campaign in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, becoming the first Australian to score 500+ runs in two different ODI World Cups.
With the news of Warner’s retirement from the Test format in mind, Australia coach Andrew McDonald heaped praise on the Australian batting great, stating that Warner is arguably the nation’s most accomplished all-format cricketer and almost impossible to replace in the Test team.
“He is probably our greatest ever three-format player,” McDonald said.
“He’ll be a loss. Other people have been gunning for him for a period of time but for us, internally, we’ve seen the great value and what he brings to the table, hence why we’ve kept picking him. He repaid that faith in the first Test match.
“It can be hard to replace someone who is striking at 70, averaging 45 (and has made the) most ever runs as an Australian opener.”
Warner will play his final Test for Australia at the SCG beginning on January 3, but promises to still remain as a headline act in short-form cricket for both club and country.
But the bigger issue that the Australia selection committee currently faces is figuring out the vision for a future with the talisman opener in the squad.
“I think we can start … discussing that, definitely, and forecasting what that might look like. There is no doubt about that. It is all going to come pretty quickly,” McDonald said.
Four names which have popped up as possible substitutes for Warner in the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies are Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Green.
“There are a few options. Everyone is well aware of the options. We will put a deadline on that and that’ll be the West Indies selection meeting. All options will be considered.”
Yet another fascinating issue they are tasked with solving is that of figuring out player availability with respect to their domestic cricket schedules. With the T20 World Cup in the horizon, Australians heading to the Indian Premier League to play in March and April have the blessing of national selectors.
McDonald also stated that discussions are in place to figure out opportunities for players involved in domestic cricket.
“(The schedule) is getting more cramped. It is tough. It is difficult,” he said.
“I think it comes down to each individual case, where the player is within their career and the appetite from each individual state to allow that to happen. I think every case should be considered individually.”
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