In a recent statement, Rahul Dravid, the coach of the Indian cricket team, expressed his views on the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Dravid emphasized that dismissing Australia’s David Warner requires more than just employing the tactics used by England’s Stuart Broad during the 2019 Ashes.

David Warner has been a remarkable opening batsman of his generation, amassing 8,158 runs at an impressive average of 45.57, including 25 centuries, in 103 Test matches. However, heading into the WTC final and the subsequent five-match Ashes series, Warner has only managed to score a single century in his last 32 innings and has a mediocre record in England.

During the Ashes series in England four years ago, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Warner struggled with an average of less than 10 and fell victim to Stuart Broad seven times, often dismissed while Broad bowled from around the wicket to exploit the left-hander’s weaknesses.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval before the WTC final, Dravid acknowledged Warner’s class as a player and stated that getting him out is not as simple as just adopting Broad’s tactics. Dravid remarked, “He wouldn’t have played a hundred times if it was that simple.” He further added that every batsman has their strengths and weaknesses, and although Warner has been successful, there are ways to counter his game.

Dravid stressed the importance of dismissing Warner early on in the match, recognizing that it could significantly impact the outcome. He also reflected on the significance of reaching the WTC final, considering the hard work put in by the team over the past two years. The inaugural 2021 WTC final saw India losing to New Zealand.

However, Dravid acknowledged the concerns surrounding the future of Test cricket amidst the growing popularity of T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League. He expressed his hope that the WTC final would inspire more teams to engage in Test cricket, despite the challenges posed by scheduling and financial factors. As a former Test cricketer who played 164 matches, Dravid personally expressed his desire to see an increase in the amount of Test cricket being played worldwide.