Veteran Australia opener David Warner has come under the scanner for his poor showing in the ongoing Ashes series against England.
Warner’s Test form has been a cause of concern since 2022. In fact, his selection for the Ashes 2023 was also widely debated and the southpaw has failed to live up to the expectations so far, registering scores of 9, 36, 66, 25, 4 and 1 from six innings.
The southpaw was dismissed by Stuart Broad in both innings of the third Test. Broad has been Warner’s nemesis over the years and he got him out for the 17th time at Headingley.
With Warner retaining his place in Australia’s XI for the fourth Test in Manchester, he will be keen to get a big score and his battle with Broad will once again grab eyeballs.
However, the left-hander insisted that Broad's record against him doesn’t play on his mind when he faces the right-arm seamer.
"I don't really think about the match-up," Warner said on the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast.
"You think about the ball that's coming at you, how you are going to score. He bowls in a great area all the time.
"I always love facing Broady. We have two left-handed opening batters and he is one of, if not the best bowler to left-handers in today's game. He is so good at it.
"Jimmy (Anderson) is there as well. These are guys we have watched and played against for a long time."
Warner has batted well in patches in the ongoing England tour. He began the tour with a gritty 43 against India in the WTC final at The Oval last month, followed by a match-winning 66 in the first innings of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
"I feel like I am in great touch," Warner said. "I have felt good in the nets, leading in I had good sessions against our quicks at Beckenham (before the series).
"Lord's was probably the best I've batted in the last two years. Just holding my line.
"We have batted in probably the toughest conditions so far. In Leeds, I got two good balls.
"You can't do too much about that ... You just have to take it on the chin, can't do anything about it."
The penultimate Ashes Test will get underway on July 19 at Old Trafford.
(With AAP Inputs)
