Australia captain Pat Cummins backs opener David Warner ahead of fourth Ashes Test

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Opening batter David Warner has been backed to shine by Australia captain Pat Cummins ahead of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford. </p>

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As Australia weigh up whether to go into a Test without a frontline spinner for the first time in 11 years, captain Pat Cummins announced Warner would keep his spot and open alongside Usman Khawaja. </p>

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Warner amassed just five runs at Headingley before being snared twice by Broad, whose 17 dismissals of the left-hander is the joint-third highest by a bowler against an individual batter in the Test format. </p>

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Broad could equal the record - held by Australia great Glenn McGrath, who claimed the wicket of former England captain Mike Atherton 19 times - if he does the double over Warner again in Manchester. </p>

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But Cummins argued Warner's three 50-plus stands in this series have been invaluable to their 2-1 lead and is backing the 36-year-old, who is averaging 23.5 after six innings, to come good this week. </p>

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"Davey didn't have his best game last week at Headingley but prior to that, I think he's looked really good - he's had three fifty-run partnerships which can be rare over here in England," Cummins said. </p>

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"Steve Smith got a great hundred at Lord's, a lot of that was off the back of a really important first session from the openers. </p>

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"We back Davey, absolutely. We know how tough it can be to open over here. He's doing all the right things, he's shown some great signs and I'm sure a big score is just around the corner." </p>

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Cummins revealed Josh Hazlewood would replace fellow seamer Scott Boland, who has taken just two wickets in two matches at an eye-watering 115.5 average, while fit-again all-rounder Cameron Green seems set to replace Murphy after the rookie spinner bowled just 9.3 overs in the third Test at Headingley. </p>

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Green lengthens Australia's batting alongside fellow all-rounder Mitch Marsh if Murphy drops out, having come in at Leeds for Nathan Lyon, one of Australia's greatest spinners who played 100 Tests in a row before injuring his calf in the second Test at Lord's. </p>

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Australia's last Test without a recognised spinner was in January 2012 against India at Perth - a match they won by an innings - although Old Trafford has a reputation for offering help to slow bowlers. </p>

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"Nathan Lyon is the greatest off-spinner we've ever had so it's not quite apples for apples (in comparing him to Murphy)," Cummins said. </p>

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"We are really excited by Todd, we think he's fantastic. He's got a big future. It was more conditions or the way I used him, as opposed to how he bowled." </p>

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England's victory last time out narrows the deficit to 2-1 in a gripping, seesaw series but Australia are still the box seat, knowing they only need to draw one of the final two Tests to retain the urn. </p>

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However, Cummins - who played in the drawn series in 2019 - insisted the clear aim of this trip was to claim a first Test series win in England since 2001. </p>

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Ahead of the penultimate match, where rain is forecast for the weekend, Cummins said: "The first preference is always to try to win. </p>

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"We drew the 2019 series and we've all come back pretty clear we want to win this one. </p>

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"We're prepared for anything, really. We'll see how it plays out. We've already seen a lot of different things from both teams this series. I'm sure this one will be another cracker with some random stuff thrown up." </p>

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<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/cricket/news/australia-captain-pat-cummins-backs-opener-david-warner-ahead-fourth-ashes-test">Australia captain Pat Cummins backs opener David Warner ahead of fourth Ashes Test </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>