After former Australian paceman, Rodney Hogg accused skipper Steven Smith of inducting his close friends into the international fold, the explosive opening batsman David Warner on the eve of the fourth ODI has come hard at Hogg while saying he utterly fails to understand where they get such news which stands baseless.
“I don’t know from where all these theories crop up from,” Warner was quoted as saying by PTI in Bengaluru.
It’s pertinent to point out that former Victorian fast bowler Hogg, who played 38 Tests and bagged 123 wickets in his international career, was enraged when he accused Smith while talking to Australian Radio station SEN.
“It is up to the selectors to pick the team and at the end of the day, if you are picked up, you go out there and give your best. That is how it always has been,” Warner responds when he was sweating out in nets.
After brushing aside the lofty claims from Hogg, Warner reiterated there is nothing left for players to decide and the prospects are being inducted following their spectacular performances in the domestic set-up.
The left-handed batsman believes selection is being purely made on merit basis while considering the record and ability of the talented players.
“Moreover, players do not have anything in their hands about getting selected or not selected, only thing they can do is to perform to their best of abilities,” Warner remarked.
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However, Hogg, who featured in 71 ODIs for his 85 scalps between 1978 and 1985, was saddened by Australia poor performance in the subcontinent. The visitors batting line-up failed to leave an impact in the first two matches at Chepauk and Kolkata.
“We have got to get fair dinkum. We are really off the ball a bit here, I think the captain’s getting his own way,” Hogg remarked.
Moreover, the 66-year-old Hogg lashed out at the Cricket Australia (CA), and the National Selection Panel of Australia for gentleman’s game.
“[Steven] Smith shouldn’t be a selector. You can’t pick bloody mates,” Hogg told SEN earlier.
The 30-year-old Warner, who is going through the lean patch, revealed the favouritism theory from Hogg is untrue while adding everyone is ‘entitled to their opinions’.
“Everyone is going to have their opinions and they are entitled to have their opinions,” Warner Concluded.
The central figure in Australian cricket, Warner since 2009 has played 99 ODIs, 66 Tests and 63 Twenty20 international matches for Australia.
Warner is averaging 47.94 in five-day format, 44.01 in ODIs and 28.10 in T20Is.
With fourth ODI scheduled in Bengaluru on Thursday, India would be aiming for a whitewash, as Australia would be pushing hard to salvage some pride to win a game or so in the remainder of the 50-over format.