David Warner can correct road woes by following Allan Border’s overseas philosophy

DAVID Warner’s incredible home record has failed to transfer on the road. Robert Craddock says Warner can correct this blight by learning from another pocket-sized left-hander.

David Warner’s dismal series continued in the third Test.

OPPOSITION teams tremble at the sight of David Warner walking out to bat in Australia — but not overseas.

Warner’s overall Test average of 47.72 combined with a hurricane strike rate of 78 is outstanding but he has never managed to fully pick the lock on how to dominate away from home.

His home average of 59.2 stamps him as a pure match winner in his own backyard but his offshore average of 36.81 does not do his talent justice.

In all but one of the innings he has played in the Indian series he was out before his young opening teammate Matt Renshaw and his series return of 131 runs at 21 is disappointing.

David Warner’s dismal series continued in the third Test.

It has left his career average in India at 23 after seven Tests with Indian slow man Ravi Ashwin bagging him nine times to be his most frequent tormentor from all nations.

While Warner has relished batting in Australian-like conditions in South Africa, he has averaged just 13 in New Zealand and around 27 in Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Warner loves the pace of Australian wickets but is less comfortable when the ball is not coming onto the bat, spinning or seaming.

In Australia his giant bat disposes of the ball as if it is made of rubber but overseas, where a more patient, subtle game is required, he has not been the same player.

For years statisticians have compared Warner’s progress to Steve Smith as debate flared over who is the better batsman.

For a good while Warner was the man. But Smith has cleared away.

For all the quirks of his home spun technique, Smith shrewdly adapts his game to overseas conditions and he has been lauded in India for batting like an Indian, with wristy, soft-handed calculation in his stroke play.

Smith averages 68 in Australia and around 56 on the road. They are dambusting figures.

When former Test fast man Rodney Hogg looks at Warner’s record he thinks of another pocket-sized left-hander.

“It just shows you how good Allan Border was when you think of how well he did overseas and what he had to put up with,’’ Hogg said.

Allan Border cuts during the 1979 tour of India. Picture: Adrian Murrell/Allsport

Border’s touring life was all but done before the advent of neutral umpires in Tests gave touring sides a better deal.

Despite some shameless home town umpiring, dodgy wickets and having to lead a team perpetually under siege, Border somehow managed to average 56 on the road — 10 more than he averaged in Australia.

His key was that he scrupulously analysed the conditions and would work out what shots would work and which were out of play.

Humility won the day, a lesson any batsman could learn from.

Originally published as David Warner can correct road woes by following Allan Border’s overseas philosophy