England v Australia: David Warner return key to World Cup plans

If Australia want to win the World Cup next year, David Warner will need to be at the top of the order.

Australia’s Shaun Marsh celebrates reaching his century against England in Cardiff. Picture: AFP

There may still be a little sting in the tail of sandpaper-gate but the reality is David Warner will walk straight back into the Australian one-day team if they really want to win next year’s World Cup.

After two losses in a row to England, nothing stands out more than Warner’s absence from the top of the order and it appears new coach Justin Langer is settled on the best way forward.

On Channel 9 on Saturday night, Warner was adamant he had spoken to all his teammates, the same ones who kept their distance after events in South Africa, and they would welcome him back.

With that box ticked, Warner has turned his mind to keeping his batting up to standard during his year off, and added a stint in the Caribbean Premier League after his hits in Canada and the Northern Territory, before a home summer of playing cricket.

Before that however, Langer has used his first two games in charge of the “new era” to try a few opening moves which are yet to yield results, and every loss while he tests the waters adds to questions about Australia’s one-day standing.

Aaron Finch opened the batting in 87 of his 88 one-day games before this series, but found himself coming in number five in game two, as Big Bash revelation D’Arcy Short was given an ODI debut and batted up top with Travis Head.

The opening partnerships have been seven and 24 in two games so far, and the inability to get away has just piled pressure on those down the order.

Batting shouldn’t be the issue it has been either. While Short is new, the rest of the top six have 277 ODI games between them, and every one of them has an international century. Shaun Marsh hit his fourth on Sunday, but didn’t have any helpers.

“We know we need to improve a fair bit to get that win. We’re heading in the right direction but we still need lots of improvement and hopefully we can see that in a few days’ time and try and get back into this series,” Marsh said after the loss in Cardiff. He could be another option to open the batting too, but wouldn’t put his hand up.

“The coaching staff and the leadership group will discuss that … but I think they’ll stay the same,” Marsh said.

Through his short time in charge, Langer has presented a positive, united front, dealt with the still lingering interest in the ball-tampering affair, and has been backed up by his players who are determined to act and play in a way that demands all-day, everyday excellence.

But while full of purpose, the pursuit of better needs results too, because 12 months out from a World Cup defence every performance matters.