India open up on their plan to ruin David Warner’s Ashes campaign at World Test Championship
India open about their plan to ruin David Warner’s Ashes campaign by using an England blueprint to cheaply remove the Aussie opener at the World Test Championship
- Warner has struggled against England’s onslaught
- India coach Rahul Dravid has taken note
- Aussies face India at The Oval on Wednesday
Indian coach Rahul Dravid says removing David Warner in the World Test Championship final on the cheap won’t be as easy as copying Stuart Broad’s 2019 tactics.
Warner will go into Wednesday’s final at The Oval under immense pressure as he battles to make an early selection statement ahead of next week’s start in the Ashes.
The southpaw endured a torrid 2019 Ashes run on his last red-ball visit to England, scoring 95 at an average of 9.5 and having 61 of those runs in one innings.
Warner has been adamant this week that he’s a different batsman now than he was in 2019, willing to play more offensively rather than think defensively on the latest Ashes tour.
Warner was all smiles as the Aussies trained at The Oval in preparation for the World Test Championship – but India has a plan to wipe that grin off his face
Coach Rahul Dravid still wary of Aussie opener despite recent struggles in Tests
But still, there is a template set up by England four years ago that India can work with.
Warner was dismissed seven times by Broad in 10 innings, as the England sailor came up to him around the wicket and hit him on both sides of the bat.
India and Australia have made every effort to study footage of their rivals playing in England as conditions at The Oval will be significantly different from where they have met in the past.
Despite that, Dravid didn’t expect Warner to be a sitting target for his fast-paced actions.
“He’s a class player. It’s not as easy as just turning up and bowling around the wicket and getting him out,’ Dravid said.
He wouldn’t have played 100 tests if it was that simple.
Speedy England’s Stuart Broad (pictured taking a wicket against Ireland last week) has shown the world how to knock out Warner quickly
Warner needs a good showing against India to ensure he retains his opening spot when the Ashes kick off in Edgbaston on June 16.
“The hitters know exactly what you’re looking at. There is nowhere to hide anymore, everyone has very similar information about each other.
‘It’s all in how you counter that.
David has been very successful at that. We know it’s a very important wicket to get up early.’
India will go in with at least three sailors with both Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj sure to play alongside spinning all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
A decision will then be made whether to play both Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur in a four-pronged tempo attack, or if one of the two should be knocked out for veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Oval has generally been one of England’s drier wickets suitable for spin, but the fact that this is the first June Test in the ground’s history has seen both sides see more grass and seam movement to expect.