Usman Khawaja backs David Warner to continue playing Tests

Usman Khawaja & David Warner (Source: Twitter)

Australian opener David Warner is one of the most consistent players who is currently engaged in all three formats of the game. However, his form in Test cricket saw a massive dip, and he has faced stern criticism for the same. 

Earlier, in November, the star batter dropped a hint that he might take a retirement from the longest format of the game after next year's Ashes series to prolong his white-ball career.

Amid all the chaos, David Warner’s long-time batting partner Usman Khawaja has backed him to continue playing Tests for Australia for as long as he wants. 

Warner has failed to make a Test century since January 2022 and looked terribly out of form in the recently concluded red-ball series against West Indies, where he couldn't manage to go past the 50-run mark both in Perth and Adelaide.

“(I) always feel like Davey is close to making runs, felt like he was going to get a big one in the last couple of games but he got a couple of 20s."

Khawaja stated that Warner is the kind of player who can turn the game at any moment. He further heaped praise on his batting partner, conceding Australia have many batters coming up, but they don't have any 'David Warner'.

“I look at it from a wider perspective, think I said it after the game, it was more about that I've played domestic cricket the last few years, I've seen what's around, we've got some really good cricketers coming up, but we don't have any Dave Warners.

“The batting line-up we have right now, the top six, are the best players in the country." 

“If you had the choice of picking David Warner or someone else, I'm picking David Warner every day of the week. Think the opposition players know that, too, because they know how quickly he can turn the game.”

Warner has garnered 7919 runs in 98 Test matches at an average of 46.04 with the help of 24 centuries and 34 half-centuries. He will go down as one of the finest all-format batters to play for Australia in the history of Test cricket. 

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