The Australian chairman of selectors, George Bailey, has extended his support to the under-fire opener David Warner after questions were raised about the veteran batter's place in the Test side following another poor outing against South Africa in the first Test at The Gabba, Brisbane.
Warner has not scored a century since January 2020 in Test cricket and has also failed to make any significant contribution with the bat since then. The left-hander was dismissed for 0 and 3 during Australia’s 6-wicket win over South Africa on December 18 at The Gabba to add only to his woes.
But Bailey stressed that Warner should not be judged on his performance in the first Test against South Africa and hopes to see him back among the runs soon.
George Bailey said: “I don’t know how much to read into this wicket or this match itself and say that any batsmen on either side is in good or bad touch. I personally think there’s runs around the corner for him.”
He continued, “I still think he’s preparing as well as he can, he’s looking fantastic in the nets. No doubt he’d like a few more runs and to be contributing more at the top of the order, but I have full confidence that it will come.”
Warner’s averages in India (24.25) and England (26.04) are sub-par and during the 2019 Ashes, he scored an abysmal 9.50 runs per innings. The former cricketer also insisted that Warner was not yet showing signs of succumbing to age.
Bailey signed off by saying, “I still think he’s moving well. I still think he’s catching well and I think when people start to go, the catching goes and the moving goes. But he’s still an outstanding fielder, still fit as a fiddle.”
(With AFP Inputs)
