Former Ashes and World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke has expressed his concerns over David Warner having a say in choosing his ‘opening partner’ ahead of the red-ball series against India. The former Australia cricketer has, however, clarified that there was nothing wrong in Warner’s comments.
But what Clarke is concerned about is the message that is being sent across to the young Will Pucovski, who performances in the Sheffield Shield are screaming to get rewarded. Meanwhile, Joe Burns’ poor form in Australia’s domestic cricket will likely be overlooked as has been suggested by head coach Justin Langer and Test captain Tim Paine.
“How does Will Pucovski feel sitting on the sideline reading this in the paper? If he does get nod, he’s walking out to bat with David Warner and he’s reading a headline — if you read the article it’s very different to the headline. David Warner doesn’t sit there and say ‘I want Joe Burns, I don’t want Will’ but if you read the headline that’s how it comes across,” Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
“So unless Will Pucovski is reading every word, he’s going to think ‘David doesn’t want to open the batting with me, he wants to open with Joe Burns’. So it’s a horrible position for everyone to be in.”
“His [Warner’s] comments are fine. He respects Joe Burns, he enjoys batting with Joe Burns, he’s good friends with Joe Burns, but he’s not a selector.”
Last week, Cricket Australia selector Trevor Hohns had implied that the committee would consult veteran opener David Warner in order to decide on who should open with the left-handed batsman in the Adelaide Test against India.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting had then revealed that he is not a fan of this idea and wants the selectors to make the decision and not a player. While Warner and Burns share a close friendship, the real problem lies in the fact that a player is being asked as to who should be his opening partner.
“I’m surprised they’re even asking him [Warner], to be honest. I know what they’re talking about because they have done well when they’ve played together. It’s an interesting thing for a selector to come out and say,” Ponting added.
“At the end of the day, they’ve just got to pick who they think the best player is. And if they think their best player and best option is Joe Burns, then stick with him. If they think Pucovski is a better player here and now, they should go with him. I’m just reading the tea leaves a little bit, even with what Justin had to say about the relationship between Burns and Warner, my gut feeling is they won’t go to Pucovski just yet,” he said.
