Times have changed for David Warner
How things have changed in Australian cricket since David Warner made his Test debut the last time New Zealand played a series on these shores.
Dave Warner has had a stellar year.
The one-day whiz’s first Test brought scores of three and 12 not out in Australia’s nine-wicket win at the Gabba in December 2011.
That came before Warner announced himself as an international long-form player of note with an unbeaten 123 in the Black Caps’ seven run win in the second and final Test in Hobart to tie the series.
If Usman Khawaja and Peter Siddle make the grade for the Australia side for next week’s first Test at Brisbane, just five players will remain from Warner’s first Test.
The other two are Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.
Warner has been through many ups and downs over the past four years.
He returns from a broken thumb to the Gabba to face the Kiwis next week as Australia’s new vice-captain with the national side undergoing its most dramatic transformation since the visitors last won here.
That was Richard Hadlee’s 1985 side.
Warner’s gritty, fighting century in Hobart four years ago ultimately fell short of delivering Australia a dramatic series win.
But it illustrated a side of his batting few thought he had – and he’s subsequently emerged as a mainstay of the Australian line-up in all forms of the game.
But now Warner has a leadership role thrust upon him under new skipper Steve Smith and he’ll need to show another side of himself if Australia are to bounce back from their heavy Ashes defeat.
After all, the Black Caps recently managed a 1-1 result in England.
“It is exciting, the last time we played New Zealand was my debut,” Warner said.
“We have to try and better what we did last time with them when it was 1-1.
“We will be trying our best to get our team right and move forward and try and beat them on our home soil.”
But first Warner has to get through NSW’s opening round day-night Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval starting on Wednesday.
It is his first match since his thumb was broken by a Steven Finn short ball in September.
“Obviously it has been a long time since I have played a Test match and played red ball cricket so I am excited to be out there,” Warner said.
“This is my first NSW game since that accident happened so I am really chuffed to get out there.”
