Border-Gavaskar series: David Warner says Usman Khawaja not only Australian batter under pressure at Gabba

Days after getting stuck into Marnus Labuschagne David Warner has extended his criticism to Australia’s top six batters saying they all needed to produce runs in the hotly-anticipated third Test at the Gabba starting Saturday.

Warner, who was given a farewell Test tour last summer that has been blamed for having Australia ill-prepared to replace him for this heavyweight series against India, said his former opening partner Usman Khawaja was not the only one under the pump.

“I think the pressure is on all the top order, not just Uzzie,” Warner said.

“Travis came out and counterpunched and scored a brilliant hundred, and we know he’s capable of doing it. But it’s everyone else around supporting that.

“It’s not just one player in particular, it’s the top six scoring bulk runs and making sure you’re giving rest to the fats bowlers.”

“It was a fast paced Test in the first game, but this last one was Mitchell Starc at his best as usual with the pink ball.

“Come Brisbane, we need to see some big runs from the top order.”

On Monday Warner said Labuschagne’s half century — that was widely credited for laying the foundation of Australia’s emphatic second Test win in Adelaide — had not impressed him.

“I’m still not convinced with Marnus. I don’t think that was anywhere near what we know he’s capable of,” Warner said.

“He might have got a couple out of the middle, got a couple of freebies, batted well that night to get through but they bowled poorly.

“So from that perspective, he had the best conditions to come out and bat in. But He got out the same way he always does get out when he gets over 50, hits it straight to gully. “So there’s a lack of awareness there of what he’s got to be mindful of. I don’t think he’s anywhere near where he should be.”

McSweeney said on Wednesday, as the team trained at the Gabba, that he had a testing initiation against speed demon Jasprit Bumrah but he’s hoping India’s talisman recovers from a groin injury.

Bumrah, who has taken McSweeney’s wicket in each of his three innings, is under an injury cloud after failing to train in Adelaide on Tuesday.

“If you want to win you want to do it with the best guys. Hopefully he is charging in and hopefully we can play really well,” McSweeney said.

McSweeney started his career with Queensland and said he enjoyed batting on the Gabba pitch with its true bounce and his penchant for scoring square off the wicket.

“I know I can withstand a bit of pressure and hopefully I can get a big score here in Brisbane,” he said.

“You never really know if you are up to it until you spend some time in the middle and get a bit of confidence.”

with AAP