{"id":315468,"date":"2023-07-11T23:01:35","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T23:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=315468"},"modified":"2023-07-12T03:00:44","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T03:00:44","slug":"coachs-defence-revealed-for-under-fire-warner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=315468","title":{"rendered":"Coach's defence revealed for under-fire Warner"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\ufeffustralian coach Andrew McDonald<\/a> has backed David Warner<\/a> to retain his role at the top of the order for the fourth Ashes<\/a> Test despite the veteran opener's continued struggles.<\/p>\n

Warner's position has been questioned after he was dismissed for a total of five runs across two innings in the third Test, falling both times to Stuart Broad.<\/p>\n

However, when quizzed over potential line-up changes ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, McDonald pointed to the numbers.<\/p>\n

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"You've also got to reflect on what the opening partnership's been able to do across the six innings and there's been three 50-plus partnerships in there," he said.<\/p>\n

"Albeit it didn't function to its level (in the third Test), in some ways it's done well so far in this series.<\/p>\n

\"Australia's<\/p>\n

"We've got a lot to consider and a lot to weigh up, and Mitch Marsh has put a question to us, no doubt."<\/p>\n

McDonald's sentiment was echoed by former Australian coach Darren Lehmann.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"He (Warner) batted really well, without his 66 at Lord's we lose that game," he told SENQ Mornings.<\/p>\n

"He's played really well, both Test matches (that we won) in the morning in getting sent in on green wickets.<\/p>\n

"Yes, they flattened out, but he did a job for us with Usman Khawaja and that was a big reason why we won those two Test matches.<\/p>\n

"So I think they'll keep him for one more."<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

McDonald was also asked about the possibility of shifting Marsh up the order to potentially partner Usman Khawaja at Warner's expense, but he wasn't convinced it would yield the desired results.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"He (Marsh) did pretty well down the middle-order," he said.<\/p>\n

"To put him up to open in English conditions would be something we haven't discussed yet. But we do have some time between now and the next Test."<\/p>\n

The decision at the top of the order isn't McDonald's only selection headache, with a big call looming on whether Cam Green is an automatic returnee to the side after missing the third Test due to soreness.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"Cameron Green is important to the structure of the team as well, with his all-round capabilities," he said.<\/p>\n

\"Third<\/p>\n

"He was left out, it was a touch-and-go situation with a minor hamstring, so he's going to be fully fit and available for Manchester so there's nothing to hide there.<\/p>\n

"We've got a decision to make. It's going to be tough."<\/p>\n

While young spinner Todd Murphy was seldom used at Headingley, McDonald hinted that he is likely to retain his spot in the side in Nathan Lyon's absence.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"We like a spinner," McDonald said. "We like to have a balanced attack, and it gives you options, you can take pace out of the game, and you become one dimensional \u2013 whether it be with the right-arm bowlers or just pace bowlers in general \u2013 without the ability to turn to a spinner.<\/p>\n

"I think that leaves you a bit short at times, and England played a very aggressive side here with Moeen (Ali) at seven and four quicks, but they value the spinner as well just to change the pace of the game.<\/p>\n

"We'll have to assess that, but as it sits at the moment we do like to have the spinner in the team."<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A\ufeffustralian coach Andrew McDonald has backed David Warner to retain his role at the top of the order for the fourth Ashes Test despite the […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":315470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315468"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=315468"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":315472,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315468\/revisions\/315472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/315470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=315468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=315468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=315468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}