Australian cricket fans call for Sam Kontas and prefer retired David Warner over recycled openers
The people have spoken – and they’re saying ‘no’ to Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw. But the prospect of a David Warner comeback is the real curveball.
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Joe Public wants Sam Konstas to make his Test debut, would not be horrified by a David Warner comeback but does not rate recycled openers.
This is the verdict of News Corp’s poll of more than 3400 readers responding to news broken by this masthead that Warner had offered his services as an emergency Test match opener to selectors George Bailey and Andrew McDonald for the series agains India.
Konstas, the 19-year-old New South Welshman who started the season with twin centuries against South Australia, is the public pick with 36% of the vote.
Then, surprisingly, comes Test match retiree Warner with 25%.
Warner’s comeback proposal has been widely panned but the public vote for him was relatively strong.
One of most decisive elements of the survey was how lowly rated the group of cycled openers are by the fans with Marcus Harris (13%), Cameron Bancroft (18%) and Matt Renshaw (8%) polling poorly.
The choice of an opener – or a batsman down the list – has divided pundits around the country.
Former Test firebrand Jeff Thomson, once impressed by the quality of 41-year-old England batsman Colin Cowdrey in an Australian tour, does not believe a 38-year-old Warner could cut the same mustard.
”Warner is done,’’ Thomson said.
“I always felt Cam Bancroft was made a scapegoat for Sandpapergate and I would not mind seeing him back.’’
The problem for Bancroft is that in two Sheffield Shield matches this summer he has scored 0, 0, 8 and two.
Former Test coach Darren Lehmann had a different thought.
”I think Warner is probably having a bit of fun with the selectors by offering to come back,’’ Lehmann said at Allan Border Field where he was commentating on the Queensland-South Australia Sheffield Shield game.
”He retired 10 months ago. We have to move forward don’t we? ”I think they will go for a young guy. The jury is still out for me. I have been impressed by Nathan McSweeney from South Australia, not just in this game but in quite a few Sheffield Shield games.
“Sam Konstas has been going well and fought quite well yesterday. It is probably down to that two for me.’’
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Originally published as Australian cricket fans call for Sam Kontas and prefer retired David Warner over recycled openers
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