David Warner has sent a warning to the Australian top order, claiming that the pressure is not just on Usman Khawaja to score runs. Despite winning the second Test on the back of Travis Head’s brilliant 140, big names like Khawaja, Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh have failed to deliver during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Khawaja has scored 34 runs so far, while Smith has recorded 19 runs with an average of 6.33 in the 3 innings he has come out to bat. After a struggle in Perth, Marnus Labuschagne came back to form with a well-compiled 64 in Adelaide. Warner, as quoted by Yahoo Sport, said that while Head did well in the Adelaide Test, there was no support around him.
The former opener felt that the onus has to be on the top 6 to score the bulk of the runs and give the bowlers enough rest. Warner said he wants the top order batters to deliver some runs in Brisbane.
“I think the pressure is on all the top order, not just ‘Uzzie’,” said Warner. “Travis came out and counterpunched and scored a brilliant hundred, and we know he’s capable of doing it. But it’s everyone else around supporting that.
“It’s not just one player in particular, it’s the top six scoring bulk runs and making sure you’re giving rest to the fast bowlers. It was a fast-paced 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 order.”
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After Khawaja’s recent failures, fans have been calling for the impressive Sam Konstas to be roped in. However, Warner has called for patience with the veteran opener and claimed that the selectors would have picked Konstas if he was ready.
“That’s up to the selectors,” he said.
“They would have picked him if they thought he was ready by now.”
The third Test in Brisbane between Australia and India will start from December 14.
