In a recent discussion, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden raised concerns about the Australian cricket team missing the dynamic presence and consistent performance of David Warner in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Warner, a key player who has etched his mark in 112 Test matches for Australia and amassed an impressive 8786 runs at an average close to 45, has recently retired from international cricket, leaving a significant void in the Australian lineup.
Speaking on Wednesday, Hayden, who shared a similar role as a left-handed opener with Warner, emphasized the impact of Warner’s retirement. “For the first time, it doesn’t feel as secure,” Hayden remarked. “David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He was extremely competitive, wonderfully dynamic. He really took that legacy that I’d created through the 2000s. His strike rates in excess of 80 (70.19) gave great momentum to the top order which, otherwise, is quite conservative. So I think he’s an enormous loss in terms of how do you replace him.”
Warner’s track record against India further underscores his importance. Having played 21 Tests against India, Warner has scored 1218 runs at an average of 31.23, with four centuries—all of which were scored on home soil in Australia where he accumulated 760 runs in 10 Tests.
During his visit to Mumbai for the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, Hayden also expressed his reservations about the idea of promoting Steve Smith to the opener’s slot. He shed light on the strategic reasoning provided by George Bailey, Australia’s chief selector. “The rationale that George Bailey gave was correct,” Hayden acknowledged. “He thought it was about choosing his best top six players, batsman. Now, you can’t argue with that. Steve Smith averages 65 (56.97) and has 30 (32) Test match hundreds. You know the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different. It didn’t take long to discover that [in New Zealand earlier in the year when Smith as an opener was not exactly a success].
. I said at the time that I didn’t like the change. I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position, and then you change to a completely different position.”
In addition to Warner’s absence, Hayden was optimistic about the leadership capabilities of Pat Cummins, heralding him as one of the future greats among Australian captains. “He’s a great of our game,” Hayden said of Cummins, who has clinched victories in both the World Cup and the World Test Championship (WTC) as captain. “He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s very different from the former kind of captains of the Australian team that were very much a carrot and stick type approach. He’s operating on a model that’s bringing out the individuals’ preparation in particular, something in which I think our game struggles, being a team sport. Ultimately, [it’s] how you get the best out of an individual. He has a slightly off-centre approach. I followed this team now very closely over the last two years, and they’re an extremely close team. Pat is a great leader, and he will go down as one of our greats.”
Anticipating the upcoming series against India, Hayden conveyed his enthusiasm for a five-Test series, which he believes will add a unique element of excitement. “It’s going to be an unbelievable series and actually not without great minds coming together. It is even more special by extending it to five Test matches. In three Test matches you always feel half pregnant; in four Test matches there’s always that swinging boat whereas in five Test matches, you got a chance to win. You also get a chance to lose and then you get a chance to come back and win. I love it. It’s going to be a great series.”
Notably, India and Australia have not faced each other in a five-Test series since 1991/92. The much-anticipated series will commence in Perth on November 22, followed by Tests in Adelaide (starting December 6), Brisbane (from December 14), Melbourne (from December 26), and Sydney (from January 3). India has dominated the recent encounters, having won the last two series in Australia in 2018/19 and 2020/21. Australia, last held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2014/15, highlighting the intense rivalry and stakes involved in the upcoming series.