India’s Rohit Sharma and Australia’s David Warner are regarded as two of the best openers in world cricket today. Interestingly, both of them did not start as opening batsmen early in their careers.
While Rohit was a middle-order batter before the 2013 Champions Trophy, Warner batted in the lower-order and also bowled leg-spin before setting out on his international career at the top.
During an Instagram live session with Rohit, Warner on Friday (May 8) revealed the first occasion when he opened an innings for his domestic side.
“It was bizarre, I was in the middle order, sort of coming in at the back end of the innings. In 2009, Dominic Thornely was captain of New South Wales and Philip Hughes was opening when I was suddenly told that I am opening,” the southpaw said.
“After that I just let my bowling go, and before I knew it I was walking out at the MCG in front of 80,000 people against South Africa.”
While Warner has rarely bowled in his professional career, Rohit said he used to often roll his arms and also took a hat-trick in the Indian Premier League before picking up a finger injury.
Notably, Rohit was playing for Deccan Chargers when he claimed three wickets in three balls against his current IPL side Mumbai Indians in 2009. Abhishek Nayyar, Harbhajan Singh and JP Duminy were his victims.
“I remember they were all good batsmen,” he said, mentioning his hat-trick.
Rohit and Warner play for teams that have batsmen such as Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, who are considered the best in the world in Test cricket.
“People say Kohli and Smith are the best in the world,” said Warner. “But we make Smith and Kohli because we take the shine off the ball. We have got an important job as openers.”
The pair also shared their experiences of opening the batting with Shikhar Dhawan and Aaron Finch.
“In 2013, my second game as an opener in the Champions Trophy. I told Shikhar we are playing against South Africa, I’ve never faced Morne Morkel or Dale Steyn with the new ball so you have to take strike,” Rohit said.
“He says no, you are more experienced, this is my first tour here and you should take strike. Here is an opener who did not want to take strike. And I could not even see the first three balls from Morkel. I did not expect that much pace or bounce.”
Warner said: “Finchy tells me that against left handers I have to open because he doesn’t want the ball coming into him. But I also don’t want the ball going away from me.”
(With IANS inputs)
