David Warner has struggled to get runs under his belt in the recently concluded Tata IPL 2024. Whereas the Aussies are confident in him to make a positive comeback. The Mitch Marsh-led Australian cricket team will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5.
Despite having just nine eligible first-team players, Australia defeated Namibia handily seven wickets in their first warm-up match on Wednesday in Trinidad, ahead of the start of the tournament. After a thin and injury-plagued IPL season, David Warner also found some important time in the middle.
He smashed a 20-ball half-century with Australia needing just half the overs to attain their target. With 10 overs remaining, Australia easily defeated Namibia’s score of 119/9, riding high on David Warner’s explosive hit of 54 not out of 21. After battling injuries and lack of consistency in the most recent IPL, David Warner’s attacking fifty is a great indication for the Australians. The 37-year-old batsman made 168 runs from eight innings in the IPL 2024 with a strike rate of 134.40 and an average of 21.
Josh Hazlewood On David Warner’s Form
Josh Hazlewood, an Australian bowler, was impressed by Warner’s performance in their first warm-up match and anticipates that the seasoned player will have a significant impact at the T20 World Cup. He said :
“When it comes to these tournaments he always stands up as we know so I expect nothing but big things again from the Bull (Warner),” Hazlewood told Cricket Australia after the game.
“He looked good out there on what looked like a pretty tough wicket and he timed the ball pretty well from the outset. So we always expect big things from Davey,” he added.
Earlier, Adam Zampa (3/25), who bowled brilliantly once again, and Hazlewood (2/5) set the tone with an outstanding opening performance that included three maidens. Namibia only managed to sneak beyond 100 thanks to some strong late hitting from Zane Green (38).
Australia’s Mitchell Marsh and David Warner, who batted first, scored 39 runs in three overs in response. Tim David (23), who was able to reach the crease after Josh Inglis (5) and Marsh (18 wickets) were removed, helped the Australians maintain their run rate by easily hitting boundaries.
David Warner was dismissed by Bernard Scholtz (2/16) in the ninth over, but Warner and Matthew Wade (12*) maintained the pressure and Australia easily won. Among them are Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green has been allowed more time off in order to recuperate following their participation in the 2024 Indian Premier League. Consequently, only nine players were available for Australia to play on Wednesday.
“Obviously, we didn’t have a full quota of players but the guys who played, probably a few of us needed to coming off a big layoff. I know a number of the bowlers were coming off a long break which is pretty unusual in our system, but it’s good to get out there, playing is always different to training,” said Hazlewood.
“The wicket looked a little bit tough early, a little bit slow, which is probably what we’re going to encounter here in the West Indies. So a nice hit out, got the result and we move onto the West Indies in a few days,” he added.
The 2021 T20 World Cup winners will again be short-handed for their second and final warm up game against West Indies on Thursday at the same venue, although they may regain Stoinis.
Australia WC Squad : Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Travelling reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matthew Short.
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