David Warner loves batting in Australia

David Warner maybe below-par outside Australia but in Australia, he is simply invincible…..

  

Four years ago, a fan on Twitter requested David Warner a triple hundred in Test cricket at which Warner replied, “Have you seen my patience haha”. Indeed, Warner is famous for essaying flashy hundreds rather than the composed ones like Steve Smith. He did score a double ton at The WACA four years ago, but, perhaps, that was the only time, he showed the patience to occupy the crease "a bit more" period and chase for something big.

It could have been something bigger if he calmed down "a bit more". Runs came at a brisk pace – 253 runs off 286 balls created havoc and entertained all. The crowd demanded more than a triple ton. Well, Warner walked for the pavilion, happy with a double ton.

The opportunity cropped again after 4 years - this time against an under-strength Pakistani unit, who were taken to the cleaners mercilessly by Warner from the word go. On the first day, Marnus Labuschagne hogged the limelight with his fluent hundred, but on the second day, it was the raging bull from Australia, who gave the Pakistani bowling attack a run for their money.

Warner went on to script a triple ton and it was possible because he did not have the intention to score run a ball, but play with a bit more composure. Yeah, a bit more composure was what needed against a Pakistani team, whose captain did not know how to set an attacking filed for his bowlers. Warner was fed with the stuffs he loved. The young Pakistani pacers provided width outside offstump like hell, which they would not provide throughout their life to any other batsmen if they learn their lessons from Adelaide.  Warner relished those things and once he was set, runs leaked, leaked and leaked.

It was great moment for Warner and his fans. He joined the elite club of those Test batsmen in the history, who scored a triple hundred. He did not have faith in his patience four years ago, but now he has and paid rich dividends.

In all, Warner batted for more than 9 hours and smashed 39 fours and a six.

Warner joined Sir Don Bradman (twice), Matthew Hayden, Taylor, Bob Simpson, Bob Cowper and Clarke as Australians to have scored a Test triple ton and is the 27th man overall to reach the mark, the most recent of which was India's Karun Nair in 2016.

Warner's knock is the highest-ever Test score at the Adelaide Oval, surpassing the unbeaten 299 that Bradman scored against South Africa in 1932.

Warner is also just the second man to score a triple hundred in a Day-Night Test, joining Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali, who scripted it three years ago against West Indies in Middle East.

Of course, Warner loves batting in Australia. The Australian tracks never frustrated him and always played a key role from getting out of the lean-patch.

Outside Australia, Warner’s numbers are below-par. In 41 Test matches and 80 innings away from home, he averages 34.50 (63.78 at home) and scripted just 6 hundreds (17 at home). The numbers are pretty mediocre, when we talk about someone like Warner, who burst into the scene as one of the flag-bearers of Matthew Hayden. At home, Warner does remind us about Hayden, but as soon as he leaves the Australian shores, he consistently proves that he is nothing but a home track bully.

A few months back in Australia, Warner was undone by Stuart Broad and co. In five Tests, he scored just 95 runs at an awful average of 9.51. Had someone like Smith and Labuschagne not been around, it would have been tough for Australia. The English pacers, Broad in particular, exploited Warner’s weakness outside offstump and beat his defence couple of times. In this age of videos and modern technology, it is easy to get an idea about how to outweigh the opposition players. Teams like India, England and New Zealand learn while the rest just watch.   

Anyhow, Warner knows he would be able to get back to rhythm in this summer and returned with a bang. After scoring the triple ton, each and everyone – especially those from subcontinent, demanded for a 400, but the Australians are never attracted by personal landmarks. In their culture, winning matters more and at one point the Australian captain declared. Warner left the arena with 335 not out.

It was a bold and professional decision from Paine and Australian think tank, which a bunch of emotional fan base from subcontinent won’t be able to understand. With the Adelaide weather showing poor forecast in the coming days, it was very important to allow Australia enough time to set jitters in Pakistani batting line-up. It worked. Pakistan are in shambles at stumps. Definitely, winning a Test is more important than someone’s personal landmark.   

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 30/11/2019 David Warner loves batting in Australia 

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Faisal Caesar