Michael Vaughan Opines on David Warner’s Impact on the Ashes
Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that England are afraid of veteran Australia player David Warner despite his poor form. The left-handed batter had a series to forget during his last red-ball visit to England and has been struggling for runs of late.
Apart from a double century during the home series against South Africa, Warner does not have much to show for in the longer format as well. He was struggling for runs in the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskat Trophy before he returned home due to injury as well. Saying that Warner does not have to necessarily open the batting for Australia during the Ashes, Vaughan said to The Age:
“The one thing with David Warner, I know England fear him, I do know that the captain worries that Warner could come out of the traps and just have one of those series. And he’s never done it really in England. He doesn’t have much of a record here. I know Anderson and Broad don’t mind bowling to him. But the modern game seems to be available to out-of-the-box thinking more than ever. He doesn’t have to open the batting.”
Naming David Warner as an excellent player of spin and backing him to be well-suited at No. 5 or 6 in the batting order, Vaughan stated:
“Warner is such a good player of spin. He’s such a good player when the ball that’s not moving. The ball won’t move after 30 odd overs in English conditions. Could they find a place for him at five or six?”
However, out of his 187 Test innings, Warner opened the batting in 184. He has batted at No. 3 twice and once at No. 6, where he scored a mere five runs as well.
Michael Vaughan opines on how England should play in the Ashes
However, England are arguably the most in-form side in Test cricket ever since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over the reins. They have lost just two Test matches since July and they are hoping to win the Ashes as well. Stating that England have shocked each opponent that they have played against so far in the recent past, Vaughan said:
“I think that it’s important to play this England side with a little bit of fire. Playing timidly won’t work. This England team are good. They’re played a brand that’s shocked every single team that they’ve played against so far.”
Meanwhile, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey recently stated that they will not adopt an aggressive approach and will instead focus on their brand of cricket that helped to the World Test Championship (WTC) final as well.
