David Warner and Steve Smith had a tough last 12 months before making their way into the Indian Premier League 2019. They both showcased their class in the middle for their respective teams. Meanwhile, they have a big task on their shoulders playing for Australia in the ICC World Cup 2019. Meanwhile, the head coach Darren Lehmann makes his voice.
David Warner enjoyed a scintillating Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 wherein he amassed a staggering 692 runs in just 12 matches at a brilliant average of 69.20 with a century and eight half-centuries under his belt. He even bagged the Orange Cap for becoming the leading run-scorer.
Steve Smith would be exceptional at World Cup: Darren Lehmann
Speaking of the return, Darren Lehmann quoted that the presence of David Warner and Steve Smith is going to be a major boost for the team. Further, he went on to add saying that the form of Steve Smith in the middle order will certainly be the major positive for the team.
“Smith at number three or four, he’d be exceptional at the World Cup,” Lehmann told Macquarie Sports Radio. People are worried about the break they’ve had with 12 months out, but you see them in the IPL performing and making runs.
David Warner is an excitement machine:
Darren Lehmann believes that David Warner would put the stage on fire with his batting heroics in the tournament. He quoted that it would be tough to stop Australia if David Warner gets into his zone once again.
“David Warner is an excitement machine, at the top of the order, he can set it alight. If he has a really good tournament, he set us on the road to winning a lot of games in the last World Cup. If he does it again at the top of the order with Aaron Finch, they’ll be hard to stop.”
Australia recently completed a three-match ODI series (unofficial) against New Zealand XI wherein the likes of Warner and Smith scored runs for fun. In the third and final ODI, Smith hammered the Kiwi bowlers and scored 89 runs as Australia won the series 2-1.
Australia will next play England on May 25 in a warm-up match for 2019 World Cup at the Rose Bowl in Southampton before kickstarting their World Cup campaign against minnows Afghanistan on June 1 at County Ground in Bristol.