‘Even if he makes four ducks’: Allan Border urges selectors to make Ashes call on David Warner

As David Warner’s future hangs in the balance, Allan Border says the onus is on selectors to send a clear and emphatic message. The cricket great chats to DANIEL CHERNY about the Ashes quandary.

One of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers has opened up on David Warner’s future in the Test team. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Australian cricket legend Allan Border has urged national selectors to back David Warner in for the start of the Ashes regardless of how he performs in the World Test Championship final.

Warner’s position in the Aussie XI is the major selection storyline heading into the battle for the urn, with selectors repeatedly unwilling to publicly assure the veteran opener of his spot in the side beyond the WTC decider against India at The Oval in early June.

The 36-year-old has a middling record in England and averaged less than 10 in the 2019 away Ashes series, while he has just one Test century in the past three years - a stunning Boxing Day Test double-ton against South Africa almost five months ago.

Fellow left-hander Marcus Harris and the versatile Matt Renshaw are both in Australia’s squad for the WTC final and first two Ashes Tests, leaving them primed to replace Warner should he be omitted.

What Warner’s role in the Ashes will be remains one of the biggest talking points in the lead up to the English summer. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

But Border, the all-time great, former Australian captain and an ex-selector himself, says the current panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald should publicly back Warner ahead of the WTC decider.

“I’m telling David Warner he’s playing the first two Test matches minimum. He’s going to play the game against India at The Oval, and he’s playing the first Test match,” Border told CODE Sports.

“I’d be taking all pressure off, I’d be telling everyone who’s listening if I’m a selector or captain, ‘He’s playing the first two games. Even if he makes four ducks, he’s playing right’. Just take all that out of the equation, whether he should or shouldn’t.

“There’s just so much speculation about David Warner. He’s been a very good player for us, you don’t discard quality just willy-nilly. And that’s the message I’d be giving. ‘He hasn’t done well in England, but we’re backing him in’.

“After that, if things don’t work out, you’ve gotta change. That’s the way of life. Law of the jungle. If you don’t perform, they’re obliged to do something. But I’d be telling the world that he’s playing the first two games.”

Warner was the recipient of the Allan Border medal in 2016. Picture: Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images

Warner has performed solidly with the bat for the Delhi Capitals during the Indian Premier League, making five half-centuries through 13 games to date.

Bailey has had several opportunities in recent months to declare Warner would play in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, but said the veteran would be “at the mercy of selection” like any other player.

While Bailey and McDonald have both publicly committed to Warner for the India match, they have made it clear that the Ashes is a different case.

“Not specifically to Dave, but I think we‘ll just get through that Test Championship,” Bailey said in April.

“We‘ll be obviously planning behind the scenes, but we’ll have a look at what that looks like as we get there.

“Different opposition and different surface in terms of going from The Oval to start the Ashes. So we‘ll work through that.

“We’ll wait and see what the conditions hold when we get there.”

Warner scored a century in the home 2017 Ashes series at the MCG. Picture: Quinn Rooney – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images

Warner has 25 centuries in his 103 Tests, averaging 45.57. Only Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Steve Smith, Sir Donald Bradman, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Border have more Test tons for Australia than Warner.

Harris earlier this month said Warner had earned the right to go out on his terms.

“My opinion with Dave is that I think he’s one of, if not the, greatest openers that Australia’s ever had. I think he’s sort of earned the right to go out the way he wants to go out. So whether or not that’s during the Ashes or whether it’s in a home summer, I think he’s earnt the right to do that,” Harris said.

Originally published as ‘Even if he makes four ducks’: Allan Border urges selectors to make Ashes call on David Warner