Mumbai: In between of all the blames, questioning the captaincy skills of Australia captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner extended his supportive words ahead of Boxing Day Test.
The Vice-captain infers such accuses nothing more than a “bizarre” that too after earning the lead in the first Test win over Pakistan.
Skipper Steve Smith had been criticised after Pakistan stormed back into the contest in the second innings, scoring 450 runs as they chased a target of 490.
Also, Smith was criticised in many circles for his lack of attacking field placings, for not putting his foot on the throat of Pakistan, and for his limited use of off-spinner Nathan Lyon as the quicks bowled themselves into to the ground.
However, Warner discards all these complaints and believes that his skipper tactfully handled the Pakistan chase and made it clear that Australia did in fact win the game.
“It’s bizarre how people are mentioning things about the way he went about field placements and bowling changes…At the end of the day, we did win the game,” Warner said.
“He communicated with me while we were out there and I thought the way he went about it was the right way.
“He thinks on his feet when he’s out there and goes with his gut, and it came off.”
Warner appreciated Pakistan’s game too, which lifted them high enough to go so big in the second innings.
Moreover, he also reversed the effects of rumoured vibes, coming from the Aussie camp this week. The notion claimed that the softer pink ball contributed in a big way and things would be different come Boxing Day when they revert to a red ball.
“Pakistan played very well, they played out of their skin and got themselves in a fantastic position to win the game. That proves to us what the pink ball does, it goes soft and you can hang around,” warner said.
“If it’s a red ball does the game go that long? I don’t know. It is quite challenging to reach 400-plus,
“They played well but we know that Test match cricket comes down to the last day, last hour.
“We won the game. If (Pakistan) can take confidence out of losing, I don’t know. We won the game, it’s a different game now, a different ball, a red ball. there are so many variables.
“We let that one go, we won, and we move on to Boxing Day.”
Warner also expressed the impact which budding all-rounder Hilton Cartwright leftover him and suggested selectors to make the call to include the 24-year-old, who looked “ready” for Test cricket.