Australian coach Andrew McDonald has dispelled any doubts about David Warner’s Test career, saying the veteran southpaw is “very much in the running for next year’s tour of India at this stage”, despite his poor run in the format. Warner averaged just 25.5 in the just concluded two-Test series against the West Indies and has averaged 23 in nine five-day matches in 2022. But McDonald backed Warner to get good in Saturday’s three-Test series against South Africa in Brisbane, and secure a spot for the tour of India in February-March next year.
“We’ll see what happens in the next three test matches, but at this stage he (Warner) is firmly in our minds for India,” McDonald told Australian media.
At the age of 36, Warner is at the business end of his career and has already stated that he will be calling on his Test cricket future after this season.
“If we keep picking him and he’s running, you know he’s back,” McDonald said.
“And if you keep picking him and he doesn’t, then he’s probably fading away. I think it’s that simple. He’s in our plans for the foreseeable future, and we’ll see what unfolds from there.” The coach said he was not at all concerned about Warner’s current form.
“His (Warner) hunger for work, in and around training, is still there. He’s busy and you’ve seen signs that he’s fine. He’s just found different ways to get out, and sometimes can that happen.” ,” McDonald said.
“He is eager to continue at this stage, he has hinted nothing else. We are also building towards a World Test Championship and he wants to be part of that so that is a clear focus for us and we have South Africa as part of that .
And then on to India. So at the moment there is no indication of anything else.’ Australia will tour India for four Tests and three ODIs from February 9 at Nagpur.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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