Australia: David Warner had always an attacking style of play in whichever format he played. In a format like Test Cricket as well, Warner played it like the limited overs format.
He was known to provide brisk starts in all three formats of the game. Just like Adam Gilchrist, David Warner was also one of the best-opening batters in world cricket.
In the Test match against South Africa, which was played in early January 2023, David also smashed a double ton in his 200th red ball game and he is only the second player after England’s former skipper Joe Edward Root to achieve this rare milestone in the red ball format. But since then Warner’s bat has gone silent.
He didn’t score enough runs in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 series, World Test Championship 2023 Final and The Ashes 2023 Test Series as well.
Warmer has also announced that the Test series against Pakistan will be his last match in the red ball format. But it is still unknown whether Warner will play all three matches in that series against Pakistan or not.
Another thing that is unclear about Warner is whether will the red ball series against Pakistan be his last game in the Test format only or will the dashing opener will retire from all three forms of this game?
We will get the answers to the above question only when Warner makes a formal announcement in the press.
David Warner is still a prolific batter in the Australian team in all three formats. He will also hold the key in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which might be his last outing in Australian colours in that event.
The front runner to replace David Warner as the opening batter in Test match cricket is Cameron Bancroft. Bancroft has been added to Australia A squad for the four-day games against New Zealand A.
He needs to have a good season and also has an opportunity to impress the selectors.
Bancroft has not played any matches for Australia since the Ashes Test series of 2019 which was played in England.
But Cameron was the leading run-getter in the domestic tournament of Australia, Sheffield Shield Trophy and he has also been getting runs for the past 12 months.
The second player who can take the vacant opening slot once David Warner leaves is Marcus Harris. He was part of the Ashes Test series in 2023, which was drawn to 2 all.
Australia will not find a better opener in the red ball format than Harris because of his experience at the international level.
Marcus Harris could even excel in that role and the Aussies will need him, especially during the transition period.
The last player in this list who can be a possible replacement for Dashing David Warner in the red ball format is Matt Renshaw. He was in the Test squad of the Ashes 2023 red ball series.
But he didn’t get a game despite the poor form shown by Warner. Renshaw had played as a concussion replacement to Warner in the second Test match against India in Delhi.
Renshaw is a proper opening batter and he should be selected for that role only. Matt can be a candidate as the next opener in the red ball side of the Aussies.