T Natarajan for Tests, what does David Warner have to say?

David Warner, who was added to the Australia squad for the third Test in Sydney, has not recovered 100 percent for the game but that did not prevent Warner from sharing his views on the newest Test entrant from the Indian side.

Warner, who captained T Natarajan at Sunrisers Hyderabad, congratulated Natarajan for making it to the Test squad but sounded a little sceptical about Natarajan’s run in the Tests.

“I am not too sure. You guys (Journalists) would be knowing his (Natarajan) Ranji Trophy stats and how he delivers day in and day out. I know he has line and lengths to do that, but obviously, back-to-back overs in a Test match? I am not a hundred percent sure,” Warner said during a virtual media interaction.

Natarajan who travelled to Australia as a net bowler ended up playing an ODI and all three T20Is has now made it to the Test squad, replacing Umesh Yadav who was ruled out due to a calf injury.

With Umesh getting ruled out, the total experience of the Indian pace attack, barring Jasprit Bumrah is just two Test matches. While Navdeep Saini and Natarajan are yet to play a Test, Shardul and Siraj have a game each to their names.

However, if Natarajan gets a node for the third match, Warner hopes that Natarajan can follow Siraj’s path and come good.

“I know a fair bit about Siraj and how well he has gone in Ranji Trophy, him backing up with repeated amount of overs. Given how his (Siraj’s debut) debut went, I am hopeful, Nattu will be able to do the same if he is included in that Test squad,” Warner said.

 “I think it’s a great reward for Nattu. I think given that he was coming over here after missing the birth of his child to be a net bowler and then being injected into the actual squad is a great achievement for him and congratulations to him.

He is a very, very good bowler and I got to see that and captain him for Sunrisers Hyderabad. I wish him all the best and if he does get that opportunity, we know he will be comfortable and will know what he has to do,” he added.

Australia meet India in the third Test at Sydney which kicks off on 7th January.