‘David Warner has been a walking wicket’: Ed Cowan rips into former opening partner

Ed Cowan has played plenty of games with David Warner, but you wouldn’t have known based on his recent comments.

Former Test batter Ed Cowan says most people agree with Mitchell Johnson’s fiery comments about David Warner, describing his former opening partner as “a walking wicket” ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan that starts on Thursday.

Johnson ripped into his ex-teammate in an explosive column that questioned the veteran opener’s spot in the team and attacked him for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018.

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The former quick has been widely criticised for his comments but has received some support from Cowan, who made his Test debut alongside Warner at the top of the order against India 12 years ago.

Mitchell Johnson’s comments about David Warner have dominated the headlines leading into the first Test against Pakistan. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

“Mitch Johnson is saying what 90 per cent of people in the pub have been thinking,” Cowan said on The Grandstand Cricket Podcast.

“What I didn’t love – I feel like he would have made a more pertinent argument – was the tone. There was a sense of anger or injustice to it.

“But the actual points around selection, statistically David Warner probably shouldn’t be in the best XI, I think most people agree with.”

Warner’s form has been an ongoing issue, with the 37-year-old reaching 50 just twice in his past 16 Test innings, although he requires just 157 more runs to become Australia’s fifth-leading scorer in Tests.

The left-hander has indicated that the SCG Test starting on January 3 will be his final one for Australia, with Johnson unhappy that a man struggling for runs should have the chance to dictate his own farewell.

Warner’s teammates have staunchly defended him over the past few days ahead of Thursday’s first Test in Perth, with selectors facing a major headache at the top of the order when they need to replace the veteran for next month’s series against the West Indies.

Ed Cowan (right) believes his former opening partner is lucky to be in the team on form.

Cam Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris have all been mentioned as possible replacements, while there have been calls for either Travis Head or Marnus Labuschagne to open the batting which would allow Cameron Green to come back into the team.

“I still think personally the best person for the job is either Marnus or Travis Head,” Cowan said.

“That allows you to pick your best six batters with Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh in the team batting at five and six, and it reshapes the team.

“I don’t think Travis Head would be that keen on that, but what it does allow is Steve Smith to bat at three, Travis at four and then your two all-rounders.

“With Marnus opening the batting, he’s walking out at one for none anyway. David Warner has been a walking wicket for two years now.

“At least he knows when he’s going to bat, he can prepare and go out and bat. It’s not a big leap to go from batting at three to opening the batting.”

Originally published as ‘David Warner has been a walking wicket’: Ed Cowan rips into former opening partner