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Perth\u2019s blistering heat has set the scene for a potentially fiery welcome out west for David Warner, as Cameron Bancroft\u2019s blade proved no mightier than Mitchell Johnson\u2019s pen in the quest to take the veteran opener\u2019s place in the Test side.<\/p>\n
A week which began with Warner in the spotlight after Johnson\u2019s controversial column will finish with his hopes of a fairytale farewell in Sydney increased after Bancroft and Marcus Harris squandered gilt-edged opportunities for the PM\u2019s XI.<\/p>\n
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Cameron Bancroft was dismissed for 53 in Canberra.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Warner, though, can expect a juicier than normal pitch at Optus Stadium\u2019s fast-bowling paradise when he battles the speed demons that have bedevilled him in the twilight of his glittering career.<\/p>\n Since returning from his 12-month ball tampering suspension in 2019, Warner has been dismissed 52 out of 59 times to pace, compared to 42 from his previous 59 dismissals.<\/p>\n The Pakistanis do not have the same pace depth as England, India or New Zealand, but in Shaheen Shah Afridi they have a high-quality left-arm quick who removed Warner twice in their most recent Test meeting.<\/p>\n Optus Stadium\u2019s drop-in deck may not have the fire and brimstone levels of the famous strips of the WACA but has retained enough characteristics for the eyes of the quicks to light up.<\/p>\n Ground staff are planning to have extra moisture in the track on the first morning to safeguard against the five consecutive days of 30-plus degree temperatures leading into opening Test, starting next Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s everyone\u2019s aim,\u201d Optus Stadium head curator Isaac McDonald said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to have in the back of your mind that it will last the whole game.\u201d<\/p>\n McDonald, though, will shave extra grass compared to last year when it was cut back to 10 millimetres to give the pitch more chance to deteriorate.<\/p>\n But McDonald said with the mercury not expected to reach the mid-30s it was unlikely for the drop-in pitch to produce the \u201cbig snaking cracks\u201d synonymous with the WACA.<\/p>\n \u201cThese wickets are a bit different \u2013 they\u2019re in a tray and with the compaction are so much more squeezed in,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cThe grass and healthy grass on top doesn\u2019t aid it to crack massively.\u201d<\/p>\n Bancroft fought hard against Pakistan in Canberra but missed out on the century he needed to keep the heat on Warner, who is perhaps just one significant score away from getting his desired finale at the SCG.<\/p>\n The West Australian hit 53 off 128 balls before being trapped in front by a delivery from seamer Khurram Shahzad which came back in sharply.<\/p>\n Harris appeared the more assured of the two openers but, with a decent score beckoning, gave it away on 49 trying to up the ante against mystery leggie Abrar Ahmed, coming down the track but failing to clear the man at mid-on. The pair had put on 96.<\/p>\n A member of the Ashes squad, Harris started the summer nominally ahead of Bancroft in the pecking order but his rival has the superior Sheffield Shield record this season.<\/p>\n Harris and Bancroft both failed to strike above 50, which has been seen as a factor against their inclusion, but scoring was not easy under overcast skies on a pitch that lacked pace.<\/p>\n Queensland\u2019s Matt Renshaw has the chance to put his name in lights on Friday when he resumes on 18, though is widely considered to be the third seed in the race to replace Warner.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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