Former Australian opener Mark Waugh on Monday (21st February) said that facing left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi will be a big test for David Warner, considering his recent struggles against pacers, in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
Australia is all set to tour Pakistan for the first time since 1998. Both the teams will face off in three Tests, three ODIs, and one-off T20I.
The first Test match will kick-start from 4th March in Rawalpindi followed by second and the third games to be played on 12th and 21st March in Karachi and Lahore respectively. The ODIs will be played from 29th March to 2nd April while the T20I is scheduled to take place on 5th April.
Opener David Warner will play a vital role for his team in the Test series if Australia fancies their chances of winning in the sub-continent. The southpaw has been one of the best all-format openers going currently in world cricket.
But his recent struggle in Tests against fast bowlers, who have taken the ball away from him, has been a cause of concern for the Pat Cummins-led side.
While it was Stuart Broad who troubled him during the Ashes 2019-20, Mark Wood made his stay at the crease difficult during the recently concluded Ashes 2021-22. Although David Warner had a decent series he looked shaky against the pacers who took the ball away from him.
Speaking to Cricket.com.au, Mark Waugh highlighted that David Warner of late hasn’t looked comfortable against fast bowlers, and facing Shaheen Afridi will be a big test for him. He talked about the bowling angle that has troubled the Australian opener.
"I don't think Warner's looked quite as comfortable against quick bowling in recent times – Mark Wood definitely unsettled him, and Shaheen Afridi will be a big test for him. It's a different angle and for him it's a little bit like a right-arm quick coming round the wicket – do you play the ball, or do you leave the ball?” Mark Waugh said.
Mark Waugh further said that facing a left-arm pacer in Shaheen Afridi, who can angle in and take the ball away from David Warner, will be a difficult challenge for the opener going into the Test series.
"Generally a right-arm seamer over the wicket is going to angle across the wicket so he's probably more confident whether to leave or play the ball, but when you've got the left-armer from that different angle, he's probably not as comfortable.
“Shaheen Afridi's got the ability to angle in and take the ball away from David Warner, so he does pose that question. Then if one goes straight on, he's bringing bowleds and lbws into play. So it's a different challenge, definitely,” he said.
David Warner has so far played 91 Tests and has scored 7584 runs at a healthy average of 47.4. The Australian opener also has 24 centuries, including a triple ton against Pakistan, and 32 half-centuries to his name.
(Cricket.com.au inputs)
