‘Well and truly warrants it’: Why legend’s backing Warner over Marsh for ODI opening role

Adam Gilchrist believes David Warner deserves the first chance opening for Australia at the ODI World Cup despite Mitch Marsh’s promising stint at the top of the order on the last visit to India.

Typically a middle-order batter, Marsh stepped in to open in Australia’s three-match fifty-over series against India in March after an elbow injury struck Warner down.

Marsh finished the 2-1 victory as Australia’s top run-scorer and the player of the series.

He memorably scored 81 runs in the first ODI and forged a match-winning partnership in the second with fellow opener Travis Head, who appears a lock for selection at the World Cup that begins in October.

Warner returned for the third match of that series and batted fourth, contributing 23 runs to Australia’s win.

Since then, the veteran opener has pitched in a decent Ashes campaign, though not one that has dispelled all doubt as to his ability to remain in the team to begin the Test summer.