Former Australian cricketer Steve Waugh believers that David Warner is yet to showcase his hard-hitting skills and World Cup semifinals will be the real test
Steve Waugh
Legendar Australian cricketer and captain Steve Waugh insists that David Warner has not hit his strides even though he is among the top-scorer of the World Cup 2019, and is still playing in 'second gear'. Steve Waugh says that the Australian opener is yet to take his 'Ferrari off for a spin'.
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Warner has so far hit two fifties and century but Waugh says the explosive opener is yet to reach his destructive best in this World Cup and the semifinals will be the right platform for him to "test the engine out".
"What's daunting for teams yet to face Australia is the notion that Warner hasn't yet taken the Ferrari for a spin on the freeway," Waugh wrote in a column for the ICC.
"He has been idling away in second gear waiting for the right moment to put the foot down. Perhaps the semi-finals will be the occasion to test the engine out."
Waugh also heaped praise on skipper Aaron Finch for leading from the front with a stroke 153 against Sri Lanka. "To win a World Cup your captain needs to lead from the front, either by actions or in words. Right now Aaron Finch is excelling in both. He has remained calm and composed off the field in dealing with the media and has unquestionably been the premier batsman of the tournament so far while controlling the tempo of the matches nicely with his leadership," Waugh wrote.
"His innings against Sri Lanka looked destined for a big number from ball one. Together with David Warner they are forging a dominant combination, complementing each other and setting a solid platform for the remainder of the order," said Waugh who led Australia to a World Cup win in 1999.
Table-toppers Australia have won four matches out of the five games with their loss against India being the only blemish and Waugh was happy that the big match players are performing well for the team.
"Encouragingly Australia's big match players are all in good form with Steve Smith searching and closing in on the rhythm and unorthodox creativity that bamboozles opposing attacks," he wrote.
"Glenn Maxwell the renowned match winner is threatening to live up to his reputation and his 46 off 25 balls followed by a 10 over spell for 46 runs give Australia two players in one when he can focus the mind.
"In Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins Australia have the best opening bowling combination at the tournament and their fitness will be a crucial ingredient to the chances of lifting the trophy at Lord's on 14 July."
David Warner recently also top-scored in the IPL 2019 for Sunrisers Hyderabad and showed no fading of form being away from international cricket for a year after he was banned for a ball tampering case by Cricket Australia.
With inputs from PTI
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