New Delhi:
When one looks at dominance for batsmen in cricket, the debate nowadays is centered on Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith. While Kohli is acknowledged as the greatest ever when it comes to ODIs, in Tests, Steve Smith holds the edge. Kohli has over 11000 ODI runs with 43 tons and is averaging over 60 while Smith has an incredible Test average of 62, having smashed 774 runs in the recent Ashes contest in England. What about Twenty20s? Many would be thinking that Chris Gayle is the obvious choice, considering his record. However, on recent form, when it comes to numbers, it is David Warner of Australia.
Warner, who along with Smith was banned from international cricket for one year due to the ball-tampering scandal, has enjoyed a magnificent run in ODIs and Twenty20s but not so much in Tests. In the Ashes contest, he managed just 95 runs in the five Tests but in Twenty20 Internationals, he has been in fine form. During the series against Sri Lanka, Warner notched up scores of 100*,60* and 57* as Australia whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0. The century was his first in Twenty20 Internationals, a bit odd considering he had made a mark in international cricket in 2009 against South Africa.
His 217 runs in the series was redemption. However, if one looks at the broader picture, Warner's form in Twenty20s has been remarkable. If one looks at the last 18 Twenty20 matches, which includes the Sri Lanka series and the 2019 IPL, his streak has been remarkable. Warner has had scores of 61*, 63, 19, 95, 69, 100*, 10, 15, 70*, 51, 50, 67, 57, 37, 81, 100*, 60*, 57*. In 18 matches, he has 10 fifties and two centuries with 1062 runs at an average of 88.5. In 10 matches, his lowest score is 37 and it contains eight fifties and a century.
Warner was the Orange Cap holder in the 2019 Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad, smashing 692 runs at an average of close to 70 in 12 games. In that edition, he smashed eight fifties and one century. With Warner in red-hot form, the upcoming clash against Pakistan, the World No.1 ranked Twenty20 side will be vital for the left-hander.
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"I've always been confident. I was out of runs (in England). For me, it's about going out there and trying to apply myself 100 percent, like I do every time. I've been hitting the ball as well as ever. I haven't changed any routines. I've just maintained that rage to go out there and back myself and play to the best of my ability," Warner said ahead of the clashes against Pakistan.
