I think Australia need and have to play David Warner in Manchester Test: Nasser Hussain

David Warner has admitted that he doesn’t see himself playing Test for Australia after this year. Warner after scoring a brilliant 50 in the second Ashes Test in the first innings, failed miserably against Stuart Broad in both the innings of the third game. Broad now has dismissed Warner 17 times in his Test career. Former English cricketer, Nasser Hussain thinks Australia should stick with Warner for the 4th Test at Manchester, despite his form.

Earlier, visiting skipper, Pat Cummins hinted that all options are open for the opening slot and he refused to sideline struggling Warner. However, Hussain thinks dropping the star left-handed batter from the opening position will leave the Aussies in a dilemma as they don’t have a proper backup for this position. In the Headingley Test, Ben Stokes-led side made a comeback after losing the first two games in a five-game series and won the Test by three wickets.

"It's the decision on David Warner. It is a really tricky thing," Hussain told Sky Sports."I think if they'd won here [third Test at Headingley], and they had won the Ashes, it would have been a time to move on from David Warner, but now it's a live game, I think they need and have to play Warner," he further added.

What option does Pat Cummins have after dropping David Warner?

Interestingly, the 36-year-old also had hinted to retire from Test duties after the Pakistan series at his home ground in Sydney next year. In the context of the former English skipper's views, if Australia drops Warner, they will have to move Marnus Labuschagne as an opener or bring on Mitchell Marsh on top order, but that will surely be making adjustments. Although the visiting side has Marcus Harris, or Matthew Renshaw in the squad, who have opened at the Test level. But, it is likely that they will not take the risk to drop the veteran batter. 

"My point being you could play Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh [all-rounders] and leave Warner out, but then who opens?"You might have to move Labuschagne, or even Marsh opens in white-ball cricket at times, so he could do it. But it's a different challenge."That's a specialist role: opening in Test match cricket. They'll have to think long and hard about who opens the batting at Old Trafford," concluded former English cricketer.

Interestingly the star Australian opener is currently the lowest-scoring batter from his side after three Tests in Ashes 2023. Warner also has struggled while batting in England in the past, as he averages 25.33 from 33 innings here. It will interesting to see if the Aussies would take the risk to drop their star batter or would be going with the same opening combination of Travis Head and Warner at the top in 4th Test.