Agency :
Not long after moving into this caper for a living, an astute new colleague issued me with a piece of advice about composing end of play pieces like this that make the cricket writing world go round. “When in doubt,” they said, “always write about David Warner.”
Of course, the story tonight could have been Usman Khawaja’s turning of the corner in those awkward middle overs, or Glenn Maxwell’s joyous cameo and unfortunate demise. Words could be invested in the importance of Marcus Stoinis’ return in balancing Australia’s XI or Nathan Coulter-Nile’s step up with the ball from the last time he turned out against Pakistan.
But that earlier rule of thumb, as ever, stacks up: the endlessly fascinating Warner delivered the most interesting thread en route compiling his 16th ODI century. With it, on that measure, he has drawn level with Adam Gilchrist – Australia’s gold standard when it comes to a modern white-ball opener; truly the man who changed it all. He has reached him in not even half the innings played.
Going back to the start of the day, Warner was once again battling to turn the strike over. In much the same way as in innings from the start of the competition, he was hitting fielders as often as the inside edge of his bat was being located. After 25 balls, he was 13 and scratchy.
“I don’t mean to go out there and bat slow,” Warner said of his difficulties out of the blocks, adding that he tried to arrange to have a count of all the times that he had picked out fielders inside the circle in this World Cup. “I’ve hit a lot of fielders, which is sort of got on my nerves a little bit. I got frustrated against India. I got frustrated against Afghanistan.”
But that emotion didn’t take over today. Why? The calming influence of Aaron Finch, for one. “He kept telling me to hang in there and bat deep and bat time. That was in like the eighth or ninth over. Because it’s generally not my game to stick there. Usually, I try and go after it a little bit come down the wicket or something.” It was in the eighth over that he timed the pants off a push that required no risk at all. In the next over, he pulled a six out of the screws. Warner was away.
As Warner’s innings got into the groove and Finch departed, it was he who was now playing the senior role. In the same way that his captain had taken the pressure off him, he did the same for Khawaja who was walking out when many would have preferred the next man in to be Steve Smith. That was certainly the expectation given the left/right-hand combinations that the Australian camp used as justification for previous shuffles in this tournament.
A final job was ahead of Warner and Khawaja in the final 15 overs, once 200 had been made and the base was laid. Could they stick the landing in happy hour? Could Australia do as England and India have shown an aptitude for? They did. Both consistently found and cleared the boundary, adding the bulk of the 131 runs that were smashed through a brutal final ten. Where Warner had made a statement earlier in the day with his willingness to wait, he made another at the end about his ability to still do what he was picked for a decade ago.
“Today was a good hit out for us batters,” he said. “It was a very good wicket, a challenging wicket for bowlers. I felt that we just had to keep going deep. And we were able to do that.”
In terms of Warner’s above-shoulders state, he continues to look as happy as can be. For this, he cites the benefits of having spent a year away from the international game – however unexpected and unfortunate the saga proved to be.
Not long after moving into this caper for a living, an astute new colleague issued me with a piece of advice about composing end of play pieces like this that make the cricket writing world go round. “When in doubt,” they said, “always write about David Warner.”
Of course, the story tonight could have been Usman Khawaja’s turning of the corner in those awkward middle overs, or Glenn Maxwell’s joyous cameo and unfortunate demise. Words could be invested in the importance of Marcus Stoinis’ return in balancing Australia’s XI or Nathan Coulter-Nile’s step up with the ball from the last time he turned out against Pakistan.
But that earlier rule of thumb, as ever, stacks up: the endlessly fascinating Warner delivered the most interesting thread en route compiling his 16th ODI century. With it, on that measure, he has drawn level with Adam Gilchrist – Australia’s gold standard when it comes to a modern white-ball opener; truly the man who changed it all. He has reached him in not even half the innings played.
Going back to the start of the day, Warner was once again battling to turn the strike over. In much the same way as in innings from the start of the competition, he was hitting fielders as often as the inside edge of his bat was being located. After 25 balls, he was 13 and scratchy.
“I don’t mean to go out there and bat slow,” Warner said of his difficulties out of the blocks, adding that he tried to arrange to have a count of all the times that he had picked out fielders inside the circle in this World Cup. “I’ve hit a lot of fielders, which is sort of got on my nerves a little bit. I got frustrated against India. I got frustrated against Afghanistan.”
But that emotion didn’t take over today. Why? The calming influence of Aaron Finch, for one. “He kept telling me to hang in there and bat deep and bat time. That was in like the eighth or ninth over. Because it’s generally not my game to stick there. Usually, I try and go after it a little bit come down the wicket or something.” It was in the eighth over that he timed the pants off a push that required no risk at all. In the next over, he pulled a six out of the screws. Warner was away.
As Warner’s innings got into the groove and Finch departed, it was he who was now playing the senior role. In the same way that his captain had taken the pressure off him, he did the same for Khawaja who was walking out when many would have preferred the next man in to be Steve Smith. That was certainly the expectation given the left/right-hand combinations that the Australian camp used as justification for previous shuffles in this tournament.
A final job was ahead of Warner and Khawaja in the final 15 overs, once 200 had been made and the base was laid. Could they stick the landing in happy hour? Could Australia do as England and India have shown an aptitude for? They did. Both consistently found and cleared the boundary, adding the bulk of the 131 runs that were smashed through a brutal final ten. Where Warner had made a statement earlier in the day with his willingness to wait, he made another at the end about his ability to still do what he was picked for a decade ago.
“Today was a good hit out for us batters,” he said. “It was a very good wicket, a challenging wicket for bowlers. I felt that we just had to keep going deep. And we were able to do that.”
In terms of Warner’s above-shoulders state, he continues to look as happy as can be. For this, he cites the benefits of having spent a year away from the international game – however unexpected and unfortunate the saga proved to be.
