Former England captain urges Australian team to persist with struggling opener in upcoming Ashes Test

Nasser Hussain, former England captain, has called on the Australian team management to continue supporting struggling opener David Warner in the fourth Ashes 2023 Test in Manchester. The match is set to take place from July 19 onwards.

Warner’s recent performance

After a promising performance at Lord’s, where he scored a fifty in the first innings, Warner faced difficulties in the third Test against Stuart Broad, his long-time rival. He was dismissed twice in that match.

Concerns about Warner’s place in the starting lineup

Warner has only managed to score 141 runs in the three Tests played so far in the Ashes 2023 series. Following Australia’s loss in the Leeds Test, there have been questions regarding his assurance of a place in the starting lineup for the upcoming game in Manchester.

Hussain’s viewpoint

While Australia captain Pat Cummins stated that they are considering their options for the match, Hussain believes that they may have to stick with the 36-year-old opener.

Hussain’s statement on Warner’s situation

During an interview with Sky Sports, Hussain said, “It’s a tricky decision for David Warner. If Australia had won the third Test at Headingley and secured the Ashes, it might have been the right time to move on from Warner. However, since the series is still ongoing, I think they need to play Warner.”

Possible replacements for Warner

Hussain also discussed potential replacements for Warner in the Australian team, particularly in the opening position. He suggested considering all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh but highlighted the challenge of finding a specialist opener for Test cricket.

Australia currently leads the five-Test series 2-1.