David Warner: Twenty20 has made Australian fearsome prospect in Tests, says Robert Croft

David Warner’s Twenty20 background has helped him become one of the most devastating batsmen in Test cricket, says Robert Croft.

Warner made his T20I and ODI debuts for Australia before he had played a first-class match for New South Wales, but has gone on to flourish in the Test arena, posting 11 hundreds and 13 fifties in his 34 games to date.

The left-hander gave a glimpse of his might on Monday when he pummelled 40 off a mere 42 deliveries during Australia’s third Test with India, and Croft reckons the opener’s grounding in short-form cricket has allowed him to dispatch international bowlers at will.

But the one-time England and Glamorgan spinner also feels that Australia are blessed to be able to partner Warner with the veteran Chris Rogers at the top of the order.

“He was brought up on aggressive, attacking batting and that has fed into his Test-match innings,” Croft said of Warner.

“He gets himself into a position where he can access as much of the ground as possible and backs himself to cream it anywhere.

“He attacks bowlers and stops them settling by making them wonder what’s coming next.

“Warner playing freely and putting a massive dent in the opposition is a huge part of the Australia game-plan, but Rogers, who is more of an accumulator, is crucial, too.

“It can be confusing for bowlers to bowl at them because the same ball will be played very differently by each batsman, with Warner a bludgeoner and Rogers more textbook.”

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Temperament

Bob Willis says Warner’s mix of brilliant eyesight and power are the reasons for his success in Tests, though the Sky Sports pundit has also been impressed by another, more sedate, opener.

West Indies’ Kraigg Braithwaite scores his Test runs at a strike rate of 41.44, compared to Warner’s 74.14, but his measured approach has paid off in 2014, with the 22-year-old collecting three hundreds – including one against South Africa on Monday – two fifties and an average of 77.88.

“Michael Slater and Adam Gilchrist brought facets of the 50-over game into the Test arena but Warner, probably more than anybody, has brought Twenty20 cricket into Test matches,” said Willis.

“His approach to Test cricket is staggering; we are used to seeing batsmen prodding and poking around at the start of an innings but not this young man.

“He must have an incredible eye and you can almost forget about footwork when you’ve got that as well as fast hands and strong forearms.”

Willis added: “Test cricket is about temperament and Brathwaite showed, against an awe-inspiring South Africa bowling attack, that he has that quality.

“He is unruffled, has tremendous concentration, keeps things very simple and looks to leave the ball outside off stump on a regular basis.

“He also gets a lot of bottom hand onto his shots, knows where the fielders are and uses the cut shot to great effect, too, so I think West Indies may have found themselves a winner.”