The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year is set to pose a significant challenge for the Australian cricket team as they grapple with the absence of one of their most dynamic and experienced players, David Warner. According to Matthew Hayden, a former Australian great and left-handed opener, Warner’s retirement from international cricket leaves a void in the team’s batting line-up that will be hard to fill.
Warner, who has donned the Baggy Green in 112 Tests, amassed an impressive 8,786 runs with an average close to 45, showcasing his consistency and skill over the years. His departure from the international arena was a significant moment, and Hayden believes it has left the Australian top-order less secure than ever.
“David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He was extremely competitive, wonderfully dynamic,” Hayden said on Wednesday. “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 them.”
The statistics further underline Warner’s impact, particularly against India. In the 21 Tests he has played against the Men in Blue, Warner racked up 1,218 runs at an average of 31.23, including four centuries—all of which were scored on Australian soil, totalling 760 runs in 10 Tests.
In contrast, Hayden expressed strong reservations about the prospect of Steve Smith opening the batting, a strategy considered by the Australian team management. “The rationale that George Bailey [chief selector] gave was correct. He thought it was about choosing his best top six players, batsman,” Hayden noted. “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].”
Hayden went on to warn that moving Smith, who is one of the world’s best-in-class batters, to a different position could be detrimental. “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.”
On the leadership front, Hayden is full of praise for Pat Cummins, tipping him to be one of Australia’s greatest captains. “He’s a great of our game,” Hayden remarked. “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.”
Hayden explained that Cummins operates on a model that focuses on individual preparation and autonomy, which he believes is crucial in a team sport like cricket. “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.”
The former cricketer also expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming series against India, advocating for a five-Test series to bring out the best competitive spirit in both teams. “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.”
Reflecting on historical encounters between the two cricketing powerhouses, it’s worth noting that Australia and India have not played a five-Test series since 1991/92. The much-anticipated series is scheduled to begin in Perth on November 22 and will continue with matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
India has managed to clinch victories in the last two series held in Australia. Furthermore, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has not been in Australian hands for over a decade, with their last series win coming during the 2014/15 home series.
As fans gear up for what promises to be a thrilling contest, the absence of David Warner will undeniably be a focal point of discussion, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.