David Warner ‘not too sure’ about T Natarajan’s road into Test cricket

Australian batsman David Warner reckons that T Natarajan might find it tough to adjust to the rigours of Test cricket. Natarajan has earned his maiden Test call up after Umesh Yadav was ruled out of the four-match series after sustaining an injury during the Melbourne Test. Earlier, Natarajan impressed one and all when he played in the ODI and T20I series.

However, as far as the longest format is concerned, Warner feels that Natarajan might end up struggling. Warner captained Natarajan in the 2020 Indian Premier League and latter performed exceptionally during his stint in the cash-rich IPL.

“Good question but I am not too sure. You guys would be knowing his (Natarajan) Ranji Trophy stats and how he delivers day in and day out. I know he has line and lengths to do that, but obviously, back-to-back overs in a Test match? I am not a hundred per cent sure,” Warner was quoted as saying during a virtual news conference on Saturday, January 2.

I am hopeful, T Natarajan will be able to do the same: Warner

Natarajan doesn’t have a whole lot of experience at the first-class level, playing 20 matches and picking up 64 wickets for Tamil Nadu. However, Warner hopes for the pacer to do well in the same way how Mohammed Siraj weaved magic on debut in the MCG Test.

“I know a fair bit about Siraj and how well he has gone in Ranji Trophy, him backing up with the repeated amount of overs. Given how his (Siraj’s debut) debut went, I am hopeful, Nattu will be able to do the same if he is included in that Test squad,” he stated.

“I think it’s a great reward for Nattu. I think given that he was coming over here after missing the birth of his child to be a net bowler and then being injected into the actual squad is a great achievement for him and congratulations to him,” Warner added.

The four-match series is currently level at 1-1. After the defeat in Adelaide, India came back to win the Boxing Day Test by eight wickets. The third and penultimate Test gets underway on January 7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.