Follow UsDavid Warner said he would have been nervous if he was part of India’s batting order while coming up against the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon during the five-match Test series in Australia, starting on November 22 in Perth.
The former Australia opener, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, made the comments after India were humiliated by New Zealand at home. Rohit Sharma and his men suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the Blackcaps.
"That was absolutely remarkable from New Zealand. And congratulations to Tom [Latham] and the guys there. I look back at that first Test that they played, and they took some amazing catches, and that sets the tone,” Warner said on Fox Sports.
"If you are taking catches like that, and you get that upper hand, and you lead the series one-nil, it's big. I know how tough it is to win over there. What they've just done is absolutely outstanding, and credit to them.
"And it helps the Australian guys. They're coming out here after being beaten at home three-nil for five Tests against the Australian boys, [who have] three world-class quicks and a world-class spin bowler, and I'd be nervous if I'm in their batting order. I would be nervous.”
Warner also passed a warning to Australian batters who will be up against Jasprit Bumrah and Co. The Australian batters failed to dominate in the last two series against India at home and that played a major role in them losing both those series by a margin of 2-1.
"The Australian top order... needs to make runs. They've got Mohammed Shami, who's currently on the road to recovery with the knee - he potentially could be out here with the team - [and] you have Bumrah and Siraj who are their spearheads.
"I think if Australia can get through those two gentlemen, there could be some big runs put on the board. But ... we're going to have to come out with our chest out against India. We have lost our last two series here against India [and] they have got a lot to play for.”
Lastly, talking about India’s senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, Warner said, "They've got some older guys in their team. I know the Australian cricket team have got a lot over 30 [as well] but you have got Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ashwin, Jadeja, you got these guys there who are in the back end of their careers as well.
“So there's a lot to play for there as well, and whether or not they finish their careers this year or next year, they will want to finish on a high. I know those guys very, very well, and they will be so determined to come out here and score big runs."
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