It is not just Usman Khawaja but the entire Australian top flight who are feeling the “pressure” despite the leveling victory in Adelaide, believes former opener David Warner. While the under-fire Marnus Labuschagne found form with a resolute fifty, batting great Steve Smith and rookie opener Nathan McSweeney continue to search for runs in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “I think the pressure is on the whole top, not just on 'Uzzie',” the former Australian left-hander told Fox Cricket.
Travis Head smashed a memorable hundred at home as Australia returned to level the five-match series after a crushing defeat in Perth.
“Travis came out and counter-blasted and scored a brilliant hundred, and we know he's capable of doing that. But it's everyone else who backs that up,” Warner said.
“It's not about one player in particular, it's about the six best scoring bulk runs and making sure you rest the fast bowlers. It was a quick test in the first game but this last one was Mitchell Starc at his best as usual with the pink ball.
“Come Brisbane, we need to see some big runs from the top class,” he said of the third Test starting here on Saturday.
McSweeney had a forgettable debut in Perth, where he was trapped LBW by Jasprit Bumrah in both his innings for 10 and 0, while in Adelaide he managed 49 runs.
Khawaja has 34 runs in the first two Tests and has reached fifty just once in his last 16 innings.
Former skipper Smith is also in the middle of a woeful run after scoring 19 in his three innings of the series.
Of McSweeney, Warner said: “He's had four of probably the five toughest jobs when it comes to an opening batsman, and I think he's handled that well,” Warner said.
“We saw a glimpse recently of the intention you show when you score, and there are a lot of question marks as to why they chose him, but the glimpse you saw, we now know why.
“He has a good temperament, I like the way he carries himself and I think he has a good future ahead of him. It's just that this bowling attack from India is ruthless when they bowl in partnerships.” On whether Sam Konstas should replace the struggling Khawaja, Warner said: “They would have picked him if they thought he was ready now. That's up to the selectors.” There have also been talks about a Test comeback for all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, but Warner believes the white-ball specialist “doesn't deserve that opportunity”.
“If you don't get picked for your Shield team, why do you deserve it? You really have to want it, to want to play four-day cricket,” Warner told CODE.
“Unless he puts his hand up, he's playing all the club cricket stuff and stuff to want to play Test cricket. In my opinion he doesn't deserve that opportunity.” Maxwell, who has a career average of 26.07 in the format, last played a Test against Bangladesh in September 2017.
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