David Warner, IND vs AUS Test Series: The Indian team is scheduled to tour Australia at the end of this year 2024, where a 5-match Test series will be played between the two teams under the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In this series, the Kangaroo team will miss its star opener David Warner a lot. Warner has retired from international cricket this year.
Warner’s last tournament was the T20 World Cup 2024 played in June. In this tournament, the Australian team did not even reach the semi-finals. Along with this, it also had to face defeat against Afghanistan.
Have not won a Test series against India for 10 years
Apart from this, this Test series is very important for the host Australia, because this team has not been able to win a Test series against India for the last 10 years. Australia last won a Test series against India in 2014.
After this, the Indian team won 4 consecutive series (2017, 2018, 2020, 2023). In this, they defeated Australia twice in their home. In such a situation, the team will definitely miss Warner in this series. Let’s know how…
Experience of playing in the Australian team
When Warner retired, he was the fifth highest run scorer in Test cricket for Australia. He played 112 Tests for the country, scoring 8,786 runs at an average of 44.6. During this time, he scored 26 centuries. He has been an important batsman for the Kangaroo team for many years. In his last Test innings too, he scored 57 runs and helped the team win by 8 wickets.
He played a total of 58 Test matches at home, scoring 5,438 runs at an average of 57.85. During this, he scored 20 centuries. His best score was 335 not out, which he made against Pakistan in Adelaide. In such a situation, Warner could have proved to be an important player against India in the home series.
Smith also completely flopped in the top batting order
Ever since Warner retired, Steve Smith has been leading the opening innings. He has opened in 4 Tests during this period. Before this, he used to come at number 4. Smith scored a total of 9685 runs in 109 Test matches in his Test career. His average was also 56.97. He also scored 32 centuries during this period. However, he has been a complete flop in opening.
As an opener, Smith scored 171 runs in 8 innings at an average of 28.50. His best score was 91 not out. Seeing Smith struggling in opening, the Kangaroo team will definitely miss Warner in the series against India. Or the team management will have to find the best opening option for Warner.
Experience of playing against the Indian team
Warner also has great experience of playing against the Indian team. He has played 21 Test matches against India so far, in which he has scored 1,218 runs at an average of 31.23. Warner has also scored 4 centuries against the Indian team. The big thing is that all these centuries have come on Australian soil.
Warner played 10 Test matches against the Indian team at home, in which he scored 760 runs. In such a situation, if Warner’s name was in the Australian squad, it would have been a matter of tension for the Indian bowlers as well. The next 5-match Test series is to be held between India and Australia under the ICC World Test Championship. Now it remains to be seen which Australian player will be seen opening with Usman Khawaja in this series.
Indian team tour of Australia (November-January 2025)
November 22-26: First Test, Perth
December 6-10: Second Test, Adelaide
December 14-18: Third Test, Brisbane
December 26-30: Fourth Test, Melbourne
Jan 03-07: Fifth Test, Sydney