David Warner

[Donny]

[luvdids]

Scores of 43, 19, 41, 38, 45 against the Kiwis suggest he didn't.

He managed to go on with the start once. ONCE.

[Pies4shaw]

He’s the competent opening batsmen in a team that made totals of more than 400 in each of three Tests and he was our second-highest run scorer for the series.

The Australian run tallies were:

Marnus 549
Warner 297
Smith 214
Head 213
Burns 155
Paine 153
Wade 119

Basically, Australia won the series on the back of generally fine bowling supported by three quality Test batsmen who delivered in the first innings of each Test. Other players turned up for the odd cameo but Warner was one of three reliable batsmen who set up Australia in every first innings:

Fist Test - Warner 43, Marnus 143, Bradsmith 43 (229 aggregate)
Second Test - Warner 41, Marnus 63, Bradsmith 85 (189 aggregate)
Third Test Warner 45, Marnus 215, Bradsmith 63 (323 aggregate).

That consistent application by the top three batsmen in the country was a big reason for the victory and series whitewash.

[Pies4shaw]

As for the question about whether Warner should have been selected to play in the Test team, the answer must be an emphatic “Of course”. He finished the 5 Tests with 786 runs at an average of 131.0 (the highest of any Australian this summer) and three centuries (including, of course, a remarkable triple century). Only Marnus made more (and he, of course set an all-time Australian record). In fact, Warner made 530 more runs in the 5 Tests than the next highest run scorer. So, even if one were to take out his magnificent 335* against Pakistan, he would still be 195 runs ahead of the next player in the tally.

Questions remain, of course, about his form overseas but he has proved, yet again, that he should be just about the first player named for any game in any format Australia hosts.

[luvdids]

I'm busy eating a kind of pie I've never tasted before....

[Pies4shaw]

In the first ODI against India, Warner broke another drought - it was over a week since he scored his last unbeaten century for Australia and even longer since he’d scored a ODI century outside Australia.

His on-field behaviour remains problematic, though: I see that cricinfo has accused him and Finch of “bullying” the Indian bowlers.

Along the way, Warner and Finch put on the biggest ODI partnership ever against India. The 258* was their second 200 partnership against India. Warner’s 128* from 112 balls saw him named player of the match. It was Australia’s third-highest ODI partnership, ever - Warner was involved in all 3.

He also brought up his 5,000th ODI run in just his 115th innings (before him, the Australian record was held by Dean Jones, who got there in 128 innings).

[Pies4shaw]

Warner just won the AB Medal for the third time in five years.

[Pies4shaw]

Also named T20 player of the year.

[luvdids]

Yes. And on the 7 cricket Facebook page there’s 1 congratulatory comment, the rest are disbelief.

[Pies4shaw]

The 7 cricket Facebook page? Surely you jest?

[luvdids]

I’ll certain to get more back up tomorrow

[Pies4shaw]

He was one vote ahead of Bradsmith.

[luvdids]

And anyway, what's wrong with the 7 cricket Facebook page? Vox Pop my friend, vox pop.

[Pies4shaw]

So, he's 72* at Lunch on Day 1 of the Perth Test.

He is presently 7th all-time for Test runs for Australia and, right now, needs 67 more runs to become Australia's highest-ever run-scoring Test opener. At that point, he would pass Matthew Hayden and with a further 18 runs after that would pass Michael Clarke and move into 5th all-time for Test runs for Australia. If he makes the 85 he needs, his run-scoring feats in Tests for Australia will be behind only Ponting, Border, Steve Waugh and SPD BradSmith.

[lazzadesilva]

Good on Warner for scoring well today but fair dinkum, this must be one of the weakest bowling attacks I’ve ever seen from Pakistan. Grade batsmen would make runs against this rubbish.