Steve Waugh awaits ‘Warner’s Ferrari spin on the freeway’

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh feels opener David Warner is batting in second gear and he is likely to explode in the knockouts of World Cup 2019.

Australia opener David Warner has so far hit two fifties and a century in Cricket World Cup 2019.

 

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh feels that David Warner has been playing in “second gear” and is yet take “the ferrari for a spin” in this ongoing World Cup.

Warner has so far hit two fifties and a century but Waugh says the explosive opener is yet to reach his destructive best in this World Cup.

“What’s daunting for teams yet to face Australia is the notion that Warner hasn’t yet taken the Ferrari for a spin on the freeway,” Waugh wrote in a column for the ICC.

“He has been idling away in second gear waiting for the right moment to put the foot down. Perhaps the semifinals will be the occasion to test the engine out.”

Waugh also heaped praise on skipper Aaron Finch for leading from the front with a strokeful 153 against Sri Lanka.

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“To win a World Cup your captain needs to lead from the front, either by actions or in words. Right now Finch is excelling in both. He has remained calm and composed off the field in dealing with the media and has unquestionably been the premier batsman of the tournament so far while controlling the tempo of the matches nicely with his leadership,” Waugh wrote.

“His innings against Sri Lanka looked destined for a big number from ball one. Together with Warner they are forging a dominant combination, complementing each other and setting a solid platform for the remainder of the order,” said Waugh, who led Australia to a World Cup win in 1999.

Table-topper Australia has won four matches out of the five games; the loss against India being the only blemish.

“Encouragingly, Australia’s big match players are all in good form with Steve Smith searching and closing in on the rhythm and unorthodox creativity that bamboozles opposing attacks,” he wrote.

“Glenn Maxwell the renowned match winner is threatening to live up to his reputation and his 46 off 25 balls followed by a 10-over spell for 46 runs give Australia two players in one when he can focus the mind.

“In Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Australia has the best opening bowling combination in the tournament and their fitness will be a crucial ingredient to the chances of lifting the trophy at Lord’s on July 14.”