Adam Gilchrist, the former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman, maintains his stance that David Warner should remain the preferred choice to open for the Australian team in the ODI World Cup 2023, despite Mitchell Marsh’s promising stint in the 50-over format. Australia’s World Cup campaign begins on October 5 against India at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
During the recent ODI series against India, Warner suffered limited playtime due to an injury. His return saw him occupying the No. 4 batting position, where he scored 23 runs from 31 balls. In contrast, Mitchell Marsh’s position as an opener shone brilliantly, earning him the Player of the Series accolade. Marsh’s steady scoring greatly aided to Australia’s 2-1 series triumph over India.
Looking forward, Gilchrist expressed optimism regarding Warner’s possible performance in the forthcoming crucial tournament, should he gain a berth on the squad. With his selection, the seasoned left-hander would offer crucial knowledge of playing in India and a history of prior World Cup successes.
“You don’t take (Warner) if you’re not going to start with him and open with him. He well and truly warrants being picked in that World Cup squad and the starting XI. He’s a World Cup winner. I think his knowledge and experience in India will be vitally important to the Aussies doing well,” Adam Gilchrist was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Adam Gilchrist added that Warner is the type of person who isn’t deterred by obstacles; instead, he uses them as inspiration to come back even stronger. It’s worth emphasizing that in the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 36-year-old played a vital role in Australia’s victory, which marked their first title in the competition. Warner’s remarkable performance also earned him the prestigious honor of Player of the Tournament.
“He (Warner) doesn’t mind being backed into a corner. That’s probably not the way he always wants it to play out but he knows how to throw a counter-punch here and there,” the former cricketer further said.
Moreover, David Warner is slated to be led by Marsh in the forthcoming ODI series against South Africa. Additionally, he has declared his intention to retire from Test cricket following the home series against Pakistan. While he is aiming for the 2024 T20 World Cup, his place in the world of ODIs is still undetermined.
The impression of Mitchell Marsh’s amazing performance in Australia’s away ODI series against India in March remains unforgettable. The 31-year-old all-rounder, generally found in the middle order, accepted a new role as an opener. This change was vital for Australia as they clinched a 2-1 series victory.
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