Though David Warner has stated his intention to retire from Test cricket at the end of the current series against Pakistan, former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy believes the opener can play the five-day game for another year. With 164 from 211 balls in the first innings, Warner excelled in Australia’s 360-run thrashing of Pakistan in Perth. The southpaw, on the other hand, has already stated his wish to end his Test career later in the series, in the New Year’s match against Pakistan in Sydney, which begins on January 3, Wednesday.
Healy feels the 37-year-old opener can still add value to the Australian Test team and he doesn’t have to part ways in the upcoming year. What I love about him is his durability. We all know how fit he must be because he has maintained his pace between wickets. I just love the way that he kept going and his feet moved. This is the bit I agree about Mitchell Johnson and what he said about, why have a swansong, your last three years haven’t been very good and now you’re picking the way you can retire, Healy said on SEN Radio.
But if he bats like that, he can go another year for me until he does not want to play anymore. That’s what he’s been missing in Test cricket, that footwork, balance, and real bat speed when he needed it, the former cricketer added.
Given his recent dismal showing in Test cricket, Warner was chastised by former colleague Mitchell Johnson for openly stating that he hopes to end his Test career after this series in Sydney. Johnson said that the series against Pakistan should have been utilized to choose Warner’s replacement.
However, Healy admitted that Warner’s century in difficult conditions won the match for Australia in Perth. That 160 in the first innings helped us to win the Test match. It was not an easy task. Maybe Pakistan missed the trick in the first session on Day 1, bowling too short, but I don’t know of anyone else who can make 160 that quick in tough conditions, Healy stated. I like the way Michael Slater made tough second-inning batting conditions look. Mark Waugh could also make a mockery out of tough conditions, but Warner was outstanding, he concluded.
Warner, who has 8,651 runs in 110 Test appearances, will continue to represent Australia in white-ball cricket and play in T20 tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.
