Amidst century drought, Australia desperately search David

When David Warner says he “lives by the sword and dies by the sword”, it’s no empty assertion. The left-handed opener usually deflates rival bowlers, and a strike-rate of 72.86 and a median of 48.95 in 84 Tests underline his aggressive batting and consistency. No surprise the hosts pin their hopes on Warner because the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy sequence nears, even when the explosive opener admits it’s “highly doubtful” he shall be totally match after a groin harm stored him out of the primary two Tests. Also Read | Brisbane Test unsure as Indian workforce reluctant to just accept quarantine proposals: ReportAustralia are determined. The batting in Warner’s absence has been mediocre as India have fought again to sq. the sequence 1-1. The Sydney Test begins on Thursday. Since Steve Smith’s 111 within the Dharamsala Test of March 2017, the groups have performed six Tests with no Australian batsman scoring a century. Among the 17 Australian batsmen to function, Marcus Harris’ 79 is the very best particular person rating, his 36.85 the highest common. He is within the squad however hasn’t performed. In the identical interval, six centuries have been scored by Indian batsmen with Cheteshwar Pujara’s 193 on the 2018-19 tour the very best. Credit ought to go the Indian bowling; its depth and selection has stored the Australian batsmen subdued, although different groups have fared higher. Also Read | No fastened solid for India’s opening showBetween April 2017 and December 2020, Sri Lanka had 5 centurions in six video games in opposition to India, England three in 5, South Africa two in six and West Indies one in 4 video games. Only Bangladesh (2 Tests), New Zealand (2 Tests) and Afghanistan (1 Test) didn’t rating a century in opposition to India in that section. According to Cricviz knowledge, Australia’s run-rate after the primary two Tests is 2.64, across the identical as 2018-19 when India gained the four-Test sequence 2-1. That sequence didn’t have Smith and Warner, each serving bans, whereas Marnus Labuschagne was but to hit his peak. This time, Smith and Labuchagne have been stored quiet. Australia need Warner to offer batting stability and present intent in opposition to the Indian bowlers. Also Read | ‘He cannot do that on Australian pitches,’ Sunil Gavaskar explains what’s ailing Mayank Agarwal“I have been talking to a few of the guys,” Warner stated in a digital media interplay on Saturday. “They’ve been saying they (India) are hitting nice lengths. It is the key on Australian wickets, whether to drive on the up or allow the ball to come on to the bat, drop and run and apply that pressure. There’s probably been a little bit of that missing – from both sides. “In Test cricket you can’t allow great attacks to dictate to you as a batsman. It has its challenges by all means but sometimes you have to play outside the square and be a little bit brave. I’ve always said I would rather go down swinging than sitting there on the crease. If I am able to get up and get out there, I will have the intent I always have. “My 84 Tests have always been about pre-meditated attacks and it doesn’t change; it’s about how the team looks at it. When I talk about intent, I mean by putting pressure back on the bowlers, not just by swinging the bat.” Warner gave credit score to the Indian bowlers, who’ve completed brilliantly regardless of Ishant Sharma’s absence and accidents to Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. “If they are bowling well, you have to respect it… Both attacks have bowled so well it has dictated the run-rate,” he stated. “You’re going to have to play the shots somewhere, whether or not you get out or you hit that for a boundary. “I live by the sword, I die by the sword when I am out there with the bat. In the two Tests, Australia’s opening stands read 16, 70, 10 and 4. With Joe Burns axed, Sydney will feature a new opening pair. Warner wants to wait two more days before deciding if he can play. “I haven’t trained the last couple of days, but after today and tomorrow it will give me a better indication of where I am. Am I going to be hundred percent? Highly doubtful. But I will be doing everything to get on that park and play. “If I feel like I can do my duties, whether it’s standing in the slip cordon, taking catches to my right and left… think that’s where it will determine whether I play or not. I can manage the running between wickets, the shot-making I have; it’s whether I have that capacity of catching the balls left and right. With Gazza (Nathan Lyon) bowling, am I going to field at first slip or leg slip?” Warner suffered the groin tear throughout the second ODI in opposition to India in November. His rehabilitation has included cryotherapy (therapy utilizing excessive chilly). “There will be some restrictions here and there,” he stated. “When you get into a game, adrenaline takes over, you sort of don’t cast any doubts that you can’t play those shots. But at the moment, yeah, there are a few shots where if you are lunging… For me it’s about my speed between wickets, that’s all that matters, it doesn’t matter what shots I can and can’t play. It’s about the drop-and-run, helping the guy at the other end get off strike. They are the things I like to be 100% fit for.”