Were Playing For Ashes; Theyre Playing For Moral Victory: Warner Mocks England's 'Bazball'

World Test Championship: Former Test opener David Warner has dismissed suggestions that Englands Bazball approach will influence the outcome of the Ashes in favour of the visiting side, backing hosts Australia to retain the urn. England havent won an Ashes series since 2015. They havent won a Test in Australia since 2011. Warner made a bold prediction that Australia will win the Ashes 3-1 even if skipper Pat Cummins misses the opening Test in Perth. Speaking at Kayo Sports and Fox Sports Summer of Cricket launch in Parramatta, Warner was asked which teams style would reign supreme in the Ashes beginning on November 21 in Perth. The Australian way because were playing for the Ashes and theyre playing for a moral victory, he said. Theres your headline. Ill just stick with 4-nil, he added when pressed for a series prediction. I think 4-nil. Theres going to be a washout somewhere; its generally Sydney. 4-nil. Its going to be a great series. All dependant on the captain (Pat Cummins). If the captain doesnt play, they might win one game. If Cummos (Cummins) there, 4-nil. If not, they probably win one game only. But Warner also warned Australia to not poke English captain Ben Stokes. I had the fortunate privilege to share a change room with him when he was younger and he has evolved into a serious cricketer and a fantastic leader, he said. If we can sort of not poke that bear and get him up and about, I think that will help the Australians enormously. But I do want to see some bantering out on the field and I want to see them going at each other a little bit - obviously not at Stokes because that is what creates that energy and involvement in the game. I think that is where the war of words comes out. Generally it is someone like myself who is starting it, but I want to see someone else in the (Australian) camp start something, whether it is Heady or someone else. Warner also suggested that Marnus Labuschagnes prior experience and success in the Test arena put him firmly in contention for next months Ashes series opener and also backed young star Sam Konstas to remain at the top of the order for the first Ashes match. Marnus has obviously come out of the blocks very well. When youve got a lot of Test cricket under your belt, you know what hes capable of and you know what he can do. When someones averaging 50 in Test cricket, youve probably got to go back to that, he said. Labuschagne opened the batting for Australia with Usman Khawaja in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa at Lords in June, before the latter was axed for the West Indies tour in June-July after making scores of 17 and 22. Warner called for Konstas to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja for the Ashes despite a recent dip in form. The young New South Welshman, who turned 20 last week, endured a torrid tour of the West Indies, accumulating 50 runs at 8.33 across the three Tests. Labuschagne opened the batting for Australia with Usman Khawaja in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa at Lords in June, before the latter was axed for the West Indies tour in June-July after making scores of 17 and 22. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Id like them to try and stick with Sam, give him a crack. He scored that hundred in the Australian A series. I thought he batted outstandingly there. I dont think weve seen exactly what we know Sam Konstas can do. Its a short-term fix if they want to try and find someone else ... but theres no reason why Sam Konstas cant do that, said Warner. Article Source: IANS