David Warner

[luvdids]

He's been named in the T20 squad.... Why is he still getting named in any squad? Getting paid plenty to travel the world basically - because he can't be getting paid to make runs.

The first opener to ever register eight single-figure scores in a Test series.

Will enter the 'G for the Boxing Day test once he's dismissed, won't be waiting too long no doubt. Not interested in sitting there watching some overhyped has-been.

[Pies4shaw]

Well, he is the reigning player of the year in the IPL. He was in imperious form, there - basically unstoppable - and is clearly the best T20 opener on the planet.

[Pies4shaw]

https://www.iplt20.com/stats/2019/most-runs

692 from 12 innings, average 69.20, strike rate 143.86. Second on the table played 2 more matches for a hundred less runs. Moreover, Warner made at least 50 in 9 of his 12 innings.

I also see that he is close to the best batsman ever in the IPL, over his career:

https://www.iplt20.com/stats/all-time/most-runs

Highest average of any of the serious runmakers in that list and most 50s by a mile, despite the fact that all of the 3 players ahead of him have played at least 40% more IPL games than he has (Warner 126, Kohli 177, Sharma 188 and Raina 193).

[luvdids]

Fair enough, I clearly don't pay enough attention to the IPL
That's fine, he can stay in our T20 squad. Leave other forms of the game for run getters.

FWIW my tip is he'll fail, having lost all confidence in England.

[Donny]

He'll be happier on Oz wickets.

[Pies4shaw]

Especially with his 100* today.

[Pies4shaw]

Finally out for 125, lbw to Labu.

[luvdids]

Yey, good on him & so he should. I'm talking more about making runs for Australia, as an Australian opening batsman he should be making centuries in Sheffield Shield

[Pies4shaw]

Test average of 59.64 in Australia but only 33.17 away. He's no Steve Bradsmith, that's for sure.

His Test average against Pakistan in Australia is well over 70.

[luvdids]

One domestic century does not a test opener make.

Doesn't appear the "Oz wickets" make that much difference.

[K]

[Pies4shaw]

^ That's just a little bit beyond silly. Smith is plainly one of the greatest players of all time, if not the greatest (as to which, time will tell).

[K]

Flat-track bully. I think we can use grades, like hamstring injuries, etc. Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade IV. Is I worse than II? I have to check, so we can have similar terminology.

If Oz had Ponting at the same age playing in that last Ashes innings, he would probably have won the Test and series with Wade.

[luvdids]

[K]

The standard of batting worldwide is abysmal.

If you watched the broadcast, you'd know that every Sky commentator agrees on that. And the Sky commentary was way, way superior to the stuff on free to air.

Holding just said that T20 has ruined the game.

Yes, please ask Steve. But unfortunately he's more diplomatic than honest now. e.g. In the ODI WC, they were asking him about the 99 SF, and he didn't want to rub it in to SA, so he just said both teams choked. (And he consulted to the Ashes team, so it'd be a bit disloyal to bag them to the public.)


It's not a secret, if only cricket followers pay attention. Two decades ago, it was already known that curators were being instructed to make the pitches flatter so that the Tests lasted longer. The problem is that you make pitches flatter; then the batsmen don't learn to play on fair pitches, so they find it even harder; so then the curators make the pitches flatter still; so then the batsmen become even worse; and it never ends.