It starts at the top: Warner, Khawaja key as Cummins faces Ashes examination

While much of the focus leading into this Ashes campaign has revolved around David Warner and his fluctuating form, this is not just about David. One of the keys to Australia’s success in this series will be that opening combination.

There’s been a lot of talk about David and whether he’ll see this series out and whether he will get to Sydney early next year, which he said is going to be his final Test match. His opening partner, Usman Khawaja, does not have a great record in England either, although he’s had a very good couple of years since getting back in the side.

If those two can play well, and I don’t think they need to make a million runs each, or even 500 runs, but if they can get us off to a reasonable start, I think we will be hard to beat. I think our batting is long enough with Cam Green at six and Alex Carey at seven. There is also Mitchell Starc at eight, who batted well in the World Test Championship final a few days ago.

England’s opportunity will arrive if they can do what they did to Warner four years ago by continually knocking him over early, and also keep Usman’s record here in England where it is. He averages 18 in seven Test matches here, so it hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for him.

The Australians can take a lot of confidence out of their strong victory in the World Test Championship final again India, and Warner was one of the major beneficiaries even though he didn’t make a big score.

I was in Moree watching the first session of that Test match with Allan Border and Peter Taylor after we’d had a charity golf day. All of us thought Davy looked pretty good. He looked steady and balanced at the crease, which is a good sign for Australia.

David Warner in action against India.Credit: AP

Unfortunately, he gloved a ball down the leg side for 43, which is a shame for him and for Australia because I think he could have put a lot of questions to rest if he’d kicked on and made a 70, an 80, or a century.

The other thing is that if Australia had been a bit sharper in England’s first innings, with the no balls and a couple of missed chances, I think they would have had the game done and dusted hours earlier. They had to work a bit harder because of those missed chances, which probably didn’t hurt. Pat Cummins got more bowling, who I think needed it, along with Mitchell Starc, and Scot Boland was as steady as usual.

I think it will be very hard to leave Scott Boland out. He got the big wickets in the second innings of the World Test Championship final just when we needed them. We all know how good Josh Hazlewood can be, but the fact that Josh has only played four Tests in two years doesn’t help his case.

There’s no doubt that he will play in this series. But will he play back-to-back Tests? Probably not. It wouldn’t surprise me if Australia picked Boland and stuck with the same team that won at The Oval. Then see where they are going at the Lord’s and maybe play Josh in the second Test.

Scott Boland was Australia’s best bowler during the World Test Championship final.Credit: AP

England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach will challenge the Australians and ask questions of Pat Cummins as captain. There’ll be times when he’ll be under pressure. There’ll be times when the track is flat and the bowlers are a bit tired and someone will get away.

That’s when his captaincy will be tested the greatest. To maintain that balance between defending runs, but also picking up wickets because there’s no doubt England’s batting, and our bowling, that combination will lead to chances in the field.

So, Australia have to hang on to them, as they did in the second innings against India. Kohli’s dismissal is a great example, but also they’ve got to have the blokes in position to do that.

Having 10 men on the boundary won’t do it. You’ve got to be able to somehow keep the runs down, but at the same time, keep the pressure on and have catching men ready for the opportunity.

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