David Warner can play another year in Test cricket, feels former Australian cricketer Ian Healy

David Healy, David Warner (Pic: AFP)

The veteran Australian opening batsman David Warner can continue playing Tests for another year if he continues his imperious form, feels former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy.

The 37-year-old batsman played a match-winning knock of 164 runs in 221 deliveries against Pakistan in the first Test match. Warner is likely to pull curtains to his career in the longest format of the game. Earlier, he stated that he would like to play his farewell Test match at his home ground, Sydney.

Also Read: IPL auction 2024: Top international players to watch out for

"What I love about him is his durability. We all know how fit he must be because he's maintained his pace between wickets. I just love the way that he kept going and his feet moved," Healy said on SEN Radio. "This is the bit I agree about Mitchell Johnson and what he said about, 'Why have a swansong, your last three years hasn't been very good and now you're picking the way you can retire'.

"But if he bats like that, he can go another year for mine (me) until he doesn't want to play anymore. That's what he's been missing in Test cricket, that footwork, balance and real bat speed when he needed it," he added. Given his recent poor run in Test cricket, Warner faced a lot of criticism for publicly announcing that he hopes to finish his Test career after this series in Sydney, by former teammate Mitchell Johnson.

Also Read: IND vs SA 2nd ODI: Patidar or Rinku set for debut, India look to seal series

Johnson felt that the series against Pakistan should have been used to pick Warner's successor. However, Healy feels the southpaw's century in difficult conditions won Australia the match in Perth.

"That 160 he made in the first innings won us a Test in Perth. It wasn't easy. I looked at it from afar on Thursday afternoon and I said, 'Oh, jeez, I wouldn't like to be Pakistan', they are going to feel about a foot shorter than they actually are tomorrow afternoon not knowing how difficult the conditions were.

"Maybe Pakistan missed the trick in the first session (on Day 1), bowling too short, but I don't know of anyone else that can make 160 that quick in tough conditions.

"I like the way Michael Slater made tough second innings batting conditions look. Mark Waugh could also make a mockery out of tough conditions, but David Warner was outstanding."

(With PTI Inputs)