Monday, 15 April 2019:
 | | DAVID WARNER of Australia bats during the Fourth Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes series at MCG in Australia. | |
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David Warner has continued his blistering IPL campaign by smashing a fourth half century in seven innings as he reinforced his importance to Australia's World Cup title defence.
The opener hit 51 off 47 deliveries in the Sunrisers Hyderabad's 39-run loss to Delhi Capitals to take his IPL season tally to 400 runs at an average of 80 and strike rate of 140.35.
Hours later Warner and former captain Steve Smith's international returns after a 12-month exile due to the ball-tampering scandal were confirmed when they were named in Justin Langer's 15-man World Cup squad.
Warner, who also has a century to his credit, is the IPL's leading run scorer in 2019; in contrast Smith has scored 186 runs at an average of 37.20.
The main question surrounding Australia's batting line up when they open their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on June 1 will be who opens with captain Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Warner in a three-way battle for two spots.
Finch and Usman Khawaja have averaged 81 for the opening stand in 10 games together in the past year - the highest of any regular combination over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, Aussie Chris Lynn blasted seven fours and six sixes in his 82 off 51 balls but the Kolkata Knight Riders' total of 161 was chased down by Chennai Super Kings with two balls to spare in their IPL match.
