Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy was hugely impressed by David Warner’s performance in the first Test win over Pakistan in Perth.
The opener set the game up for the Aussies on Day 1, scoring a near chanceless 164 from 211 balls as the home side made 487 in their first innings.
While he failed in the second dig when getting out for a duck, Healy thinks Warner’s first effort effectively won Australia the Test as he made tough batting conditions look simple.
“That 160 he made in the first innings won us a Test in Perth,” Healy said on SEN Breakfast.
“It wasn't easy. I looked at it from afar on Thursday afternoon and I said, ‘Oh, jeez, I wouldn't like to be Pakistan’, they are going to feel about a foot shorter than they actually are tomorrow afternoon not knowing how difficult the conditions were.
“Maybe Pakistan missed the trick in the first session (on Day 1), bowling too short, but I don't know of anyone else that can make 160 that quick in tough conditions.
“I like the way Michael Slater made tough second innings batting conditions look. Mark Waugh could also make a mockery out of tough conditions, but David Warner was outstanding.”
Warner’s innings also all but secured his spot in the side for the rest of the series as he hopes to retire from the format following the third Test in Sydney.
While the 37-year-old may have just two Tests ahead of him, Healy thinks he could even play for another year if his form continues to hold throughout the summer.
“What I love about him is his durability,” Healy said.
“We all know how fit he must be because he's maintained his pace between wickets.
“I just love the way that he kept going and his feet moved.
“This is the bit I agree about Mitchell Johnson and what he said about, ‘Why have a swansong, your last three years hasn't been very good and now you're picking the way you can retire’.
“But if he bats like that, he can go another year for mine until he doesn't want to play anymore.
“That's what he's been missing in Test cricket, that footwork, balance and real bat speed when he needed it.”
While Warner was clearly influential in the result, he wasn’t named Man of the Match with all-rounder Mitch Marsh claiming the award after making 153 runs across two innings.
Even though Healy understands Marsh played a big part in the win, he had Warner as his best player across the Test.
“I would have put him man of the match,” Healy said.
“When I found out how difficult those conditions were on Day 1 given that the commentators were saying pre-match about this pitch that, ‘Oh, I'll be great for bowling’… I would be putting David Warner as Man of the Match.”
Australia and Pakistan next meet in the Boxing Day Test on December 26.
