Will Pucovski or Joe Burns? David Warner Finally Breaks His Silence As He Reveals Preferred Opening Partner For India Tests
Published - 23 Nov 2020, 10:47 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:37 AM

Australia opener David Warner has hinted that he would like to open the innings with Joe Burns in the upcoming Test series against India at home. The questions of who will partner David Warner at the top against India has become a major talking point in the Australian cricket circle.
Several former Australia captains like Mark Taylor, Ian Chappell, Michael Clarke have already weighed in on the discussion and have said that they would like to see highly-rated Pucovski opening against India. And now David Warner has joined in the debate too.

The southpaw has claimed Burns has done enough to stay on as his opening partner. At the same time, he also insisted that he would embrace uncapped Pucovski if selected.
“If they go the way of Will, he has batting fantastic and been in and out of the Test squad,” David Warner said.
“He is in the right frame of mind at the moment. It probably is an opportunity for him to come into the team. But as we know it’s harder to get out of this team than get in.
“At the moment I didn’t think Joe did anything wrong last summer. We had some great partnerships and averaged over 60. And that’s what you want from your opening partnership. And at the end of the day I have to be happy with it and embrace (whoever they pick),” he added.
Pucovski and Burns’ contrasting performances in the ongoing Sheffield Shield is the prime reason for the debate over the opening slot. Pucovski has become a strong contender for the opener’s slot after impressing in domestic circuit. He was included in Australia A as well as the Test squads after scoring consecutive double hundreds in Sheffield Shield.

On the other hand, Burns has been struggling to deliver. He has scored only 57 runs in five knocks with only one score above 20. But his performance in the last summer has made him the favourite to open the innings at least in the first Test against India.
He was Australia’s third highest run-scorer, scoring 256 runs in five matches at an average of 32. Australia had won all of those five games to move to the top of the Test rankings. He and David Warner have combined six century opening stands and average more than 50 for the first wicket – a record bettered only by Warner’s combination with Chris Rogers.
“I have had over a dozen opening partners, and it’s never been quite stable,” Warner said.
“When I was batting with ‘Bucky’ Rogers we had a great partnership, and we bonded well together in the middle.
“I think something with me and Joe, we have done it over the past few years. I have known Joe for a long time. We have played out in the middle together and know each other’s game really well,” he added.

The Australia star further defended questions from the likes of Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor on whether his preference should be considered.
“It’s not a thing where the coaches and selectors will come to me and ask me,” Warner said. “It’s just a preference.
“I have batted time with Joe Burns together in the middle. I know exactly what we are about when we’re out there.
“We won a lot of games last year. For me you don’t break something that is working,” said the opening batsman.