Warner preaching patience during lean trot
Mar 21, 2017 - 7:00 AM Vice-captain David Warner won't change anything as he seeks to end a form slump in Australia's series decider against India which starts on Saturday in Dharamsala.Warner is the only member of the tourists' batting order yet to register a score of substance in the four-Test series.
Steve Smith is the leading run-scorer of the enthralling series, while 20-year-old opener Matt Renshaw has showed composure beyond his years.
Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb shared a game-saving partnership in Ranchi, where recalled allrounder Glenn Maxwell delivered a mature maiden Test ton.
It leaves Warner, identified as Australia's most-potent threat by India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin before the start of the series, as the odd batsman out.
The reformed wild child has tallied 131 runs at 21.83 in the series, failing to cash in on six starts through a combination of brash strokes and beautiful deliveries.
"Everyone in world cricket, greats and legends of the game ... they've had some form slumps and that's just the game of cricket," Warner said after the drawn third Test.
"It will turn around. I just have to keep being disciplined and making sure that my preparation is still the same.
"I've just got to come out and keep playing the way that I know best.
"I couldn't be hitting the ball any better but it's just that the runs aren't coming."
Smith's rallying call in the past two months has been for teammates to "back their defence".
Warner did that quite well in his series-opening knock of 38 - his highest score of the series. The 30-year-old took a notably measured approach, logging a strike rate of 49.4.
But he will always have an innate desire to take on bowlers. That was highlighted again in Ranchi, where the opening wicket of the match fell when the left-hander whacked a full toss back at Ravindra Jadeja.
Warner admits adapting his approach to Indian conditions has proven tricky.
"It's a patience game here," he said.
"To get out like that (to Jadeja) was quite frustrating.
"It's quite challenging to play the way I do when the ball is up and down or it's not really coming onto the bat."
Warner added he would draw confidence from a drought-breaking century in the 2016 Boxing Day Test. The batsman had gone almost 12 months without a Test ton then posted hundreds at the MCG and SCG.
"Definitely - that's where, in the back of your mind, you've got to keep telling yourself you've done the hard yards - you just don't lose it overnight," he said.
"Nothing's changed ... I've just got to go out and keep backing myself."
Source: AAP
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