With two days remaining before the much-anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final against India, Australia batter Usman Khawaja was full of praise for fellow opening partner David Warner. The summit clash between the two top Test sides will be played at The Oval in London from June 7 to 12. This will be India's second successive WTC final and Australia's first.
Warner has been in the dismal form of late and last showed his exceptional batting skill when he smashed a scintillating double-century in his 100th Test match against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2022. He even failed to perform well during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India as well. However, the 36-year-old is now trying to overcome his poor form and show his true ability and experience in the forthcoming showpiece event.
Khawaja stated that he has witnessed Warner's batting in the nets over the last two days, which he described as his finest. He also stated that he has a lot of experience playing with the southpaw and would know when he gets along well.
"Genuinely, this is the best I've seen Davey (Warner) bat in the nets the last couple days, it's been awesome to watch. It's as simple as just the way he's moving; just the way he's striking the ball," Khawaja told cricket.com.au.
"I've played a lot of cricket with him, and I've batted at the other end to him throughout my career - Test cricket or at state level - and you can just tell when he's moving well," he added.
Warner plays a lot of shots generally and you can see when that's happening: Khawaja
The 36-year-old went on to say that Warner is an aggressive player who normally plays a lot of shots, and you can see when that's happening. He also stated that he would not be surprised if Warner scores a "truckload of runs" in England, stating that he is capable of doing so.
"He's an aggressive player, he plays a lot of shots generally and you can see when that's happening. It would not surprise me if he comes out and scores a truckload of runs here, it's just what Davey can do. Every time his back is against the wall, it seems like that's when he scores runs," he added.
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