PAK vs AUS: Won't Be An Easy Test For David Warner At The Top In Test Series, Says Salman Butt

Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt feels Australian opener David Warner will face a serious challenge against Pakistan bowlers in the upcoming Test series.

Warner has played seven Test matches against Pakistan and has accumulated 1084 runs at an impressive average of 108.40 against them. In the last Test series between the two sides in 2019 in Down Under, Warner slammed 335 in the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

The southpaw would have surpassed West Indies batting great Brian Lara’s 400-run record, if  Time Paine, then Australia Test skipper, had not declared the innings at 589/3.

David Warner will be facing a challenge against Pakistan bowlers: Salman Butt

Butt is of the opinion that Warner will have a tough time dealing with Shaheen Afridi & co in the early overs of the innings in Pakistan conditions.

“It will not be an easy test for David Warner at the top of the order against the new ball. Shaheen Afridi is a good bowler in Test cricket and even Naseem Shah. Warner survives in Australia because the ball doesn’t seem that much. In Pakistan, the ball moves in the first session,” Butt said on his YouTube channel. 

“So Warner will be facing a challenge. However, he does have a lot of experience and you cannot take him easy. He has been doing well in India so let’s see what he does in Pakistan,” he added. 

David Warner scored 273 runs in Ashes 2021-22

Australia will come fresh in the Test series with a 4-0 Ashes triumphant against England at home. Warner amassed 273 runs from eight innings at an average of 34.12, he missed the three-figure mark on a couple of occasions. He made 94 & 95 in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.

Australia is scheduled to play three Tests, as many ODIs and a solitary T20I match in Pakistan with the tour starting on March 4 with the first Test in Rawalpindi. The Australian team’s visit will end their 24 years of absence from playing in Pakistan as the last time the five-time World Cup winners toured the Asian nation was back in 1998.

Also Read: PAK vs AUS: Getting Accustomed To The Conditions In Pakistan Is Really Important: Steve Smith