India open plan to ruin David Warner’s Ashes campaign using English plan to cut Australian fly-half cheaply in Test World Championship
- Warner struggled against England attack
- Indian coach Rahul Dravid took note
- The Australians will face India at The Oval on Wednesday
India coach Rahul Dravid says taking David Warner out cheaply in the World Test Championship final won’t be as easy as copying Stuart Broad’s tactics in 2019.
Warner will enter Wednesday’s final at The Oval under immense pressure, as he battles to make an early selection declaration ahead of the start of next week for the Ashes.
The southpaw endured a torrid 2019 Ashes streak on his last red-ball visit to England, scoring 95 at an average of 9.5 and having 61 of those runs in one inning.
Warner was adamant this week he’s a different batsman now in 2019, ready to play more attacking rather than the defensive mindset he adopted on the last Ashes tour.
Warner was all smiles as the Aussies trained at The Oval ahead of the World Test Championship – but India have a plan to wipe that smile off their face
Coach Rahul Dravid still wary of Australia opener despite recent struggles in Testing
But there is still a model put in place by England four years ago so that India can work.
Warner was sacked seven times by Broad in 10 innings as the English tailor circled him around the wicket and beat him on both sides of the bat.
India and Australia were keen to study footage of their rivals playing in England, as conditions at The Oval will be very different to where they have met in the past.
Despite this, Dravid didn’t expect Warner to be a sitting target for his rapids.
“He’s a class player. It’s not as simple as showing up and bowling around the wicket and knocking him out,” Dravid said.
“He wouldn’t have” played 100 tests if it were that simple.
Speedy England Stuart Broad (pictured taking a wicket against Ireland last week) showed the world how to get rid of Warner in record time
Warner needs a strong performance against India to ensure he keeps his top spot when the Ashes start in Edgbaston on June 16.
“Drummers know exactly what you’re looking at. There is nowhere to hide anymore, everyone has very similar information about each other.
“It’s just how you counter that.
“David did a very good job of doing that. We know that’s a very important wicket to get early on.
India will participate with at least three setters, with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj certain to play alongside spinning player Ravindra Jadeja.
A call will then be made on whether to play both Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur in a four-prong attack, or leave one of the two out for veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Oval has generally been one of the driest wickets in England suitable for the spin, but the fact that this is the first June Test in the ground’s history means that both sides expect to more grass and seam movement.
