Sydney, 13 December (H.S.): Sydney Thunder captain David Warner has hinted that he may shift to the middle order in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) if the team’s strategy demands it. The veteran opener said he is open to batting lower down the order to give the Thunder a new tactical option.

Warner, who has opened in 382 of his 423 T20 innings, indicated that team balance and match-ups might dictate his batting position going forward. When asked about partnering with young opener Sam Konstas, Warner replied, “That will happen only if I open. It’s totally dependent on the strategy and match-ups. We’re currently discussing the need for a left-handed batter in the middle order.”

Warner mentioned that Matthew Gilkes could be one of the options for that role, while Nic Maddinson and Blake Nikitaras — both left-handers in the Thunder squad — are also being considered. Last season, West Indian batter Sherfane Rutherford held the middle-order role but managed only 74 runs in six innings.

The Thunder skipper also urged young Konstas to back his instincts and play with confidence. The 20-year-old had a difficult start to the domestic season, hurting his Ashes hopes, but bounced back strongly with a century and a fifty in the Sheffield Shield.“You get recognized when you score runs, and that’s exactly what he’s doing,” Warner said.

“When you’re suddenly in the spotlight, the pressure increases, but he’s got a great support system around him. The best thing for him is to keep playing matches and remain fearless with his shot selection.”

Warner emphasized that the Thunder’s priority is to allow Konstas to play his natural game. “He should enjoy his cricket. Young players receive all kinds of advice, but at the end of the day, they must trust what works for them,” the captain said.

Having finished runners-up to the Hobart Hurricanes last season, the Thunder are now determined to go one step further. “We exceeded expectations last year and won some close matches, but we couldn’t show our best in the final,” Warner reflected.

The Thunder begin their new campaign against the Hurricanes next Tuesday in Hobart, and Warner made it clear that the focus is on a strong start rather than revenge. “This is about setting the tone for the entire BBL season. We want to send a statement about what we can improve this year,” he concluded.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar