Brett Lee says Australia doesn’t appreciate what it had in David Warner, backs Sam Konstas for opener’s role for Tests vs. India

As the Aussies prepare to face India without an idea who might open alongside Usman Khawaja, Brett Lee says Australia might finally appreciate what it had in David Warner now he’s gone.

Brett Lee has declared Australia may not fully appreciate what they had in David Warner as a Test opener until after the next two blockbuster summers against India and England are run and done.

Uncertainty over who might fill the vacant opening spot at the top of the Australian order only deepened on Monday after NSW young gun Sam Konstas was out cheaply at the MCG and Matt Renshaw failed to impress for Queensland.

Selectors were criticised for not pulling up Warner’s career earlier than his farewell series last summer against Pakistan, but the failed Steve Smith opening experiment and now the void of viable options in Sheffield Shield cricket underline how difficult the batting great is proving to replace.

David Warner walks off after his final test. Picture: Saeed KHAN / AFP.

Warner averaged 44.59 from 112 Tests, including 26 hundreds and the tempo at which he was able to launch Australia’s innings and take pressure off those following him to the crease was also a valuable commodity not as easily shown up in statistics.

Fox Cricket on Monday officially announced Warner as the key addition to its Test coverage this summer, but fellow commentator Lee said his transition may be more seamless for him than the teammates he has left behind.

“Firstly, Australia – not just the team but I think the public may not appreciate it now, but I think in 12-18 months, just how good David Warner was,” Lee said.

“For us at Fox and Kayo to get him and his leadership qualities and the way he understands the game and what he can bring for the audience will be massive.”

David Warner and Brett Lee in commentary at a BBL game.

Lee expects Warner to be as polarising with his opinions in the commentary box as he has been on the field.

“That’s what you want in broadcasting,” Lee said.

“You want someone who isn’t afraid of sharing their views and different aspects of their game.

“He’ll definitely bring that to the table, 100 per cent.”

Lee was speaking before Konstas copped a questionable lbw decision to fall to Test seamer Scott Boland for just 2 and slow down his march towards a fairytale Test debut against India.

But Lee still prefers the idea of a 19-year-old star of the future being given a shot over going back to Victorian Marcus Harris and West Australian Cameron Bancroft who have already been given chances and are now 30 plus years of age.

“I think if they were to go back to Cameron Bancroft, it would have been a year and a half or two years ago when he had most runs in Shield cricket,” Lee said.

“They still may pick him and they may pick Harris. But do you invest your energy and assets into guys who are ageing cricketers, with all due respect – albeit wonderful cricketers, don’t get me wrong.

“But if we’re looking to the future, why not give a guy an opportunity like a Sam Konstas who is only 19 years of age, only played a few first-class matches.

Sam Konstas has been spoken about as a Test bolter. Photo: Tom Parrish

“There are some players, like David Warner, the way he came through the ranks – he started off in T20 cricket and then turned out to be one of Australia’s greatest ever Test match cricketers.

“Glenn McGrath played only a few first-class matches before he debuted for Australia.

“There are players that the higher the level they go, the better the cricketers they are.

“I see Sam Konstas’ technique, I think he has a really good technique. I don’t think it would be a bad call if they went down that road.”

Originally published as Brett Lee says Australia doesn’t appreciate what it had in David Warner, backs Sam Konstas for opener’s role for Tests vs. India