Way back in 2012 at WACA, Perth Australia were playing a test match against India. Australia bundled out India for only 161, and the Australian openers had to negotiate just a few overs before the close of Day 1 of the test match. Australian openers Ed Cowan and David Warner started solidly and Australia were 30-0. The medium pacer Vinay Kumar was about to ball his first ball on his test debut, as Australia were trying to escape the last few overs without losing a wicket.
Cowan turned the first ball of Vinay kumar for a single on the on side and gave Warner the single. The two then had a conversation in the middle of the pitch, which could have been to play out Vinay Kumar’s over and not to lose a wicket. Warner then played two back to back dot balls and it looked as if the destructive batsman will not take any sort of risk before the end of the day. The fourth ball that Vinay bowled, was slightly overpitched and in all honesty it wasn’t a bad delivery. Warner could have defended that, or punched that to mid off, but then Warner had to introduce the world to his stroke play even in test matches. Warner lofted the delivery over Vinay Kumar’s without any fuss. Cowan then went down to Warner, and asked why did he play that audacious shot to which Warner had an epic reply.
‘’ It was Right in my Wheelhouse.’’
Warner after a gap of one full year is playing international cricket for Australia now, after the ball tampering saga Involving him and Steve Smith. He was in tears during his press conference in which he was explaining his actions. It looked as if this the end of Warner’s international cricket and he will never be seen in the Yellow and gold of Australia.
Warner showed character and kept on believing himself. He even started working at a construction site to earn and was caught practicing cricket shots while working. Warner made no compromise as far as his fitness is concerned, he was regularly working hard and was supported by his friends and family. It was that particular support that helped warner play cricket again. Warner then finally started to play cricket again when he became a part of a team in Canada T20 league Winnipeg Hawks. Then came the IPL, and we witnessed Warner at his best. He was by far the best batsman of the tournament and was ahead of everyone. He only played 11 games in the IPL, and that was enough for the pocket sized dynamo as he won the orange cap.
The Warner that everyone has seen in the cricket world cup so far has been different. Warner now takes him time and does not play attacking shots from early on in his innings. Warner’s powerplay strike rate so far in the World Cup has just been 68, which is third lowest for someone who has scored 50 runs or more in the first Powerplay.
Warner on the other hand after his brilliant innings against Bangladesh stated “ I don’t mean to go in the middle and bat slowly, I am actually trying to calculate how many times I’ve found the fielders in the first 10 overs. After a point it is frustrating when you are timing the ball but they are going straight to the fielders. I was unable to get off strike against India and Afghanistan, and that frustrated me a lot”.
Some of these drastic changes in Warner’s batting took place the unfortunate sandpaper incident. He has become an outstanding batsman who converts one’s into two’s through his incredible running between the wickets. He now always looks to bat deep and play responsibly for the team. But since he has come back to the Australian side, there has been uncertainty in Warner’s game. It looks as if he is worried about getting out and doesn’t want to play the high risk shots.
He struggled against Afghanistan and was unable to score runs with even a seven-two field the bowler had. He allowed bowlers to bowl maidens at him and settle on a consistent line and length. Against Windies he tried to force the issue early on but the ball caught a thickish outside edge and he was caught at point for not too many runs.
Then in the big game against India chasing a huge total of over 350 runs, Warner looked a pale shadow of himself as he had no answer to India’s discipline bowling in the first Powerplay. He scored only 16 runs off 34 balls against Bumrah and Bhuvi and eventually his extremely slow innings ended at a total of 66. Australia lost the match in the end and it was Probably Warner’s innings that played a massive role in India ultimately winning the contest.
When he made his 15th Hundred against Pakistan at Taunton it was scored at a strike rate of below 100. Then again against Srilanka he wasn’t at his best and batted at a strike rate of 54 and from Australia’s opening partnership of 80 runs he only managed 26.Even though Warner went on to win two Man of the Match awards but still it seemed as if Warner is trying to find himself. The New David Warner basically isn’t the Bull anymore that he used to be when he burst on the seen in International Cricket.
Against Bangladesh at the Oval, Warner was given a life by Shabbir Rahman when he was batting on 10 runs from 18 balls. It was a nothing shot that but he survived as he was dropped at point. It was again a typical Warner 2.0 start which was scratchy and edgy. His captain then asked him to bat deep and give himself more time.
Warner took the advice and was rotating the strike with his captain. Then came left arm spinner Shakib into the bowling attack. Warner after playing initial balls had enough and slogged Shakib for a gigantic 94 metres six over cow corner. It was more like the David Warner of old that everyone has been so used to off seeing over the years. Then it the later stages of his innings it looked as if Warner was batting at his best, as he played some vintage Warner shots all around the ground.
He was 77 off 96 balls at one stage and after batting deep into the innings, his last 89 runs came off just 51 deliveries. He was all over Shakib in the innings and did not allow the star bangladeshi all rounder to complete his quota of 10 overs. He went for more than 50 in 6 overs, and it was Warner who did most of the damage against him. In the post press Conference Warner made a joke regarding his nickname and said that his teammates now prefer to call him ‘’humble’’ and not ‘’ Bull’ .
When Warner was finally dismissed he had a smile on his face, maybe he was looking for a 200 that he was unable to score. Warner lost his balance trying to attempt certain shots and wasn’t back to his fluent best but he somehow got the job done and helped Australia to their second highest total in World Cup.
Warner after the match said “ I just felt bogged down again and was frustrated during my innings. I was happy that I could just hang in there and build a partnership with Uzi and finchy. I was trying to score as many as I can for my fast bowlers, and it was a fairly flat wicket”.
He also mentioned about the fact he is trying to make the most of the opportunity as he has not been a part of the Australian side for one full year. It has been a journey so far From Wheelhouse to doghouse and back again.
