Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie believes Australia must drop David Warner from the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes 2023 in Manchester, even if they win the ongoing third match at Headingley.
The left-handed opener was dismissed for the 17th time by England pacer Stuart Broad in the ongoing third Test and has only managed to hit one half-century in the three Tests thus far. Gillespie feels it is time to give Matt Renshaw a go in the rest of the five-Test series.
"Personally, I am a bit torn over what Australia should do. Part of me thinks they should maybe make a change if Australia seals the series by winning this Test. That way, they are moving forwards and they get to take a look at someone else. For me, that would mean Matt Renshaw coming in, rather than reshuffling the order," Gillespie wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
The pacer also added that he is skeptical of David Warner even fulfilling his dream of finishing his Test career after the Sydney Test next year against Pakistan, given his horror run of form lately.
"Dave has laid out his ideal plan to retire from Test cricket after the Sydney Test against Pakistan in January. But I would be surprised if he makes that. Runs are your currency and, while Dave has got a lot of credit in the bank and is one of the best players Australia has had when you don’t perform over some time, those credits dry up,” he added.
Jason Gillespie predicts that Australia will eventually need to replace David Warner, but that they won't be able to replicate his incredible slip-catching skills.
"When Dave does go, one thing that will be missed is his exceptional slip-catching. I don’t remember him missing too many. You might have someone who can average 10 runs more than you, but if they shell out a couple of chances and they cost you big runs, you are in the negative. Someone who can catch them at slip is like gold dust," Gillespie wrote.
Excluding the ongoing Headingley encounter, Warner has played 106 Tests, scoring 8338 runs at an average of 45.07 with 25 centuries and 35 fifties to his name. His highest score of 335* came against Pakistan and he has taken 83 catches in Tests.
