If Warner is not succeeding at the top, he could bat down: Darren Lehmann

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann has provided a radical solution for the national side if David Warner has to be a part of the Ashes Test squad in England. Warner’s position in the Test team was already in jeopardy with him being inconsistent over the last three years.

Lehmann, who coached Warner for five years, suggested he would be better suited down the order for the upcoming Ashes series. He added that this change could provide an ideal farewell to the veteran opener. Notably, Warner has not scored a Test century in England in the last 25 innings.

“David Warner, if he's in form, he's got something to add. The issue for me would be he's been there three times and hasn't made a 100. I thought in the last Ashes series he should bat down (the order) and bat five or six, something different, because he can really expose their bowling down the order," Lehmann said while speaking to SENQ's Pat & Heals.

Sometimes you've got to think outside the box to see who's going to succeed: Lehmann

Lehmann suggested that Travis Head should come in Warner's place at the top of the order in The Ashes, beginning from June 16 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The 53-year-old also said that the selectors could add him to the squad only if they are sure that he would perform well.

"We just keep him as an opener… but David Warner, if he's not succeeding at the top, could bat down, you could swap Warner and (Travis) Head. Sometimes you've got to think outside the box to see who's going to succeed. (Stuart) Broad and (James) Anderson are going to be quite difficult and Warner's struggled with that in England, so whether they get him there or not will be a selectors' call,” Lehmann told. 

“My gut feel is they'll take him in the squad (for the Ashes), but will they play him? I'm not so sure. But if you take him in the squad you might as well play him, or don't take him at all,” he added.

Warner played his 100th Test match during the Boxing Day Test, which saw him scoring a classic double-century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December. He thus ended his Test century drought dating back to January 2020. The 36-year-old was a part of the Australia squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was forced to head back home after suffering an injury during the Delhi Test, which Australia lost by six wickets.

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