David Warner is concerned about the future of Test cricket and the priorities of young Australian players before his potentially career-defining red-ball series in India.
Warner, who made his debut for Australia in a Twenty20 international before playing a first-class match, said he feared for the future of the longer form of the game.
Steve Smith says he has returned to his best form after claiming his fourth Allan Border Medal.
“I’ve got this little bit of scaredness [sic] about what’s going to happen in the next five or 10 years [around] where cricket is actually heading,” he said before Pat Cummins’ side left Australia on Tuesday for a four-Test series in India.
“I’d love for guys coming through to play more red-ball cricket and Test cricket. That’s the legacy you should want to leave behind. Playing in the Test arena is amazing. Pardon the pun, but it’s a skill ... and it’s a true test of cricket and how good you measure up to the greats of the game.”
Warner’s comments were within the context of a question about whether Sydney Thunder teammate Ollie Davies could break into the Australian Test team.
“Speaking to him, he likes playing white-ball cricket, so I don’t see him playing red-ball cricket any time soon,” Warner said. “If he wants to put his mind to it, he can definitely play.”
Warner said he understood the attraction of concentrating on the riches of T20 cricket, but believed young players would be more appealing to cashed-up franchises if they excelled in the game’s longest format.
“At the end of the day, everything comes back to financial rewards,” he said. “If you aspire to get a central contract, you’re going to be rewarded.
“I think guys see the short term at the moment with all the leagues and stuff around. The best way to get value for your currency is actually making a name for yourself. There’s only been a small minority of people who have actually been able to do that and have a long career.
“If you want to aspire to play cricket for Australia, you’re only going to get there by putting numbers on the board. Through Big Bash, if you think that’s going to be your way and you don’t want to play red-ball cricket, you probably won’t get that value of currency in other franchise leagues.”
For Warner, an accomplished three-format player, this year will be a test of his endurance, with an away Ashes series and a 50-over World Cup on the horizon.
For now, his focus is on what is widely acknowledged as the most difficult assignment in world cricket – winning a Test series in India.
“As soon as we get over there, we’ll switch on,” Warner said. “For us, it’s about trying to relax and switch the mind off and not thinking about what’s coming up. If you think too far ahead, it can be very exhausting. You’ll kill yourself before you get over there.”
Australia will start preparations in Bengaluru before relocating to Nagpur on February 6, three days out from the first Test. They have not scheduled a tour match, a decision Warner backed.
“Tour games, we think, are a myth,” Warner said. “We’ve been over time and time again to different countries and the preparation is not really there. It’s about going over there and getting practice wickets that we can actually practise on.
“The two Tests in Galle [against Sri Lanka last year] probably helped us for the preparation. Even though they were extreme and we won’t see conditions like that, it still puts you in good stead for this series coming up.”
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc says he is on track to play the second Test in New Delhi after injuring his finger in the Boxing Day Test.
“I’ve still got a week-and-a-half in the splint,” Starc said. “I’ve been able to train and get my workloads and everything up. I’m probably bowling close to full training intensity as I can with the splint on. I’m on track for the second Test. I’ll get a scan in about a week and then get on the plane over there.”
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