Warner in spotlight again as Pakistan plot his downfall

Justin Langer is expecting David Warner to prove his Ashes nightmare was little more than a blip on his career radar even as Pakistan plot ways to bring about the Australia opener's downfall.

Warner made an immediate statement last month on his return to cricket in his home country, making 125 in his first Marsh Sheffield Shield innings against Queensland.

That innings came at the Gabba, scene of Thursday's Domain Test Series opener against Pakistan and the venue that has been the left-hander's most productive in a 109-match first-class career.

Warner followed that century with scores of 0, 1 and 15* in the Shield before returning to his spectacular best in the T20 series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, during which he hammered 287 runs while being dismissed just once from six innings.

The 33-year-old sat out New South Wales' most recent Shield match to help care for his sick daughter but Langer has been impressed with his preparation since the Australia squad arrived in Brisbane last weekend.

"He's going great," said Langer, who confirmed Cameron Bancroft and Michael Neser as the pair set to miss selection in the final XI. "He was the same leading into the Ashes – most runs in the IPL, most runs in the World Cup – (then) had a poor Ashes.

"He's done brilliantly in the T20, had a hundred in the first Shield game back, which is a great sign.

"He loves batting in Australia, he loves batting, basically. We are looking forward to him having a great summer. I know how important he is to our team, that's why I had no doubt after the Ashes that he'd be in the first Test of the summer."

Warner enjoyed a stellar series when Pakistan toured three years ago, averaging 71.20 across the three Tests while motoring along at a strike-rate of 103. He hit a dashing 144 in Melbourne but topped that in Sydney with a century before lunch on day one and the second-fastest fifty in Test history – from just 23 balls – in the second innings.

"I can't wait to see him play well," Langer added. "When he simplifies the game, stays still and watches the ball, keeps his mind clear, we know there's no more destructive player in the world, probably."

The man whose world record Warner did not quite match at the SCG three years ago now happens to be making plans against the Australian in this two-Test series – Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq. The 45-year-old played in that series so has seen first-hand the kind of damage Warner can inflict, however he and his Pakistan side have also been reviewing footage of this year's Ashes, in which Stuart Broad's right-arm round-the-wicket attack resulted in a record low output for the opener.

Misbah also noted the difference in conditions between Australia and England – a fact borne out in Warner's contrasting fortunes in the two countries, where he averages 59.64 and 26.04 respectively. 

"Everybody has got some weaknesses," the coach said. "We've got bowlers who know where we can exploit (Warner) – they're watching those (Ashes) videos and they know where to bowl to David Warner.

"But it's totally a different story bowling in England to bowling in Australia – we know how good David Warner is in Australian conditions. So we know the lines and lengths and it's a matter of going in and replicating those practices in a game scenario."

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

Warm-up match: Australia A v Pakistan, match drawn

Warm-up match: v Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA Ground

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)