‘It’s the right time’: Warner urges selectors to make ‘gutsy call’ over his successor

David Warner wants to be replaced by a similar style of player, as Australian cricket grapples with who will succeed him as Test opener.

David Warner has urged Australia’s selectors to pick a similarly aggressive player as his replacement and hopes “they’re given a good crack” at the top of the order.

Warner will retire from Test cricket after the New Year’s Test in Sydney in front of a home SCG crowd, but the question of the summer is who will replace him in the Australian team.

The 37-year-old looked in solid touch before being dismissed for 38 on the stroke of lunch, flicking a wide ball he didn’t need to play off spinner Salman Ali Agha through to Hasan Ali at slip.

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It was a brain fade by Warner and Australia’s innings slowed, discussion quickly turned to who the Australian selectors will pick as the veteran’s long term successor.

“I just think it’s the right time for Dave,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket’s coverage.

“I know what a warrior he’s been but his game has changed. He’s not as threatening as he once was.

“He’ll go down with Matt Hayden as our best ever opener. If we were to battle for the world against Mars, I’m going in with Hayden and Warner. The one word that has been his entire career is ‘intimidator’. He could get an intimidating nought.”

David Warner was dismissed cheaply on Boxing Day. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Speaking to Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard, Warner called on selectors to pick an aggressive player as his longterm replacement.

“I’ve always played the way that I have to entertain and to put bums on seats,” Warner said.

“I think that’s what’s important — giving back and making sure the fans are getting what they paid for.

“That’s No. 1 with Test cricket. It’s a tough game, it’s not easy.

“I think it’s important and I think the selectors will continue to do this — we’ve got players like Travis Head, you’ve got Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green — guys who actually like going after the ball.

“How are we going to find these kids coming through? You’re going to find them through the Big Bash. It’s going to be a gutsy call to put someone out there in the middle, a bit like what they did with me, and experiment.

“I just hope that when they do, that person gets their chance, they’re given a good crack and it doesn’t chop and change.”

Warner wants an aggressive player to replace him. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Former England captain Isa Guha said Warner’s aggressive style of play and his rapid rate of scoring make him extremely hard to replace.

“David Warner’s role in this team is to be the aggressor,” Guha said.

“Batting at a strike rate of 70, which is unheard of. I mean, no one does that.

“That’s been his role and that’s why he’s such an integral part of this team. He sets himself on the opposition early, he gets that new ball soft. It was a brain fade just before the interval.

“I don’t think you take too much from that innings. Look at the last two years, whenever he’s been under pressure he’s picked up a big score.

“It’s going to really interesting to see who succeeds him. Are they going to look for someone who’s as attacking as him? It’s very hard to find a player like that in Test cricket. Who is going to be the successor?

“Because there’s no one scoring at that strike rate in Australian cricket at the moment.”

Warner and Usman Khawaja enjoyed a fruitful partnership. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

O’Keeffe noted both Warner and Usman Khawaja play their shots mostly square of the wicket, and picking a player who drives down the ground would be a change of style.

He said: “Does Warner’s replacement have to play that square of the wicket game that Warner’s currently playing? Or do you get a ‘down-grounder’ like Cameron Green, I’m interested in that.

“Khawaja-Warner works because any width goes to the boundary. Do you pick someone like (Matt) Renshaw or Marcus Harris, who are both square of the wicket players to supplement Khawaja?”

Adam Gilchrist added: “Bowling attacks around the world will breathe easier knowing he’s finished.”

“Coming here playing Boxing Day in front of a packed house, it still sends shivers down my spine,” Warner said.

“To come out knowing it’s my last one, it is a little bit teary.

“I’m happy. I’ve made the right decision. I’ve got my beautiful girls at home. It’s been a great journey.”

Originally published as ‘It’s the right time’: Warner urges selectors to make ‘gutsy call’ over his successor