Warner Predicts Different Challenge from England's Pace Duo in T20 World Cup

David Warner, Australia's veteran opener, has expressed his belief that England's pace duo of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer will pose a different challenge on the slower T20 World Cup wickets in the Caribbean compared to their performances in the Ashes.

Australia and England will face off for the first time since last year's Ashes series on Saturday in Barbados, with both teams seeking their second win of the tournament. Wood and Archer are expected to feature for England, who are desperate for a victory after their opening match against Scotland was washed out.

Archer has not played against Australia since the 2020 white-ball series in England, while Wood was England's most threatening bowler in the 2023 Ashes, helping them recover from a 2-0 deficit to draw the series 2-2.

However, Warner believes that the slower pitches in the Caribbean will neutralize the pace of Wood and Archer, making them less effective than they were in the Ashes.

"You just have to use their pace," Warner said. "Test cricket they set different fields, different balls. In Twenty20 cricket, you only have to get half an edge on it and it can go. So there's a fair difference."

Warner also expects the bounce to be lower in the Caribbean, which will further reduce the impact of Wood and Archer's pace.

"I've played a lot of cricket over here," Warner said. "You are expecting it to be low rather than bounce, unless it is real short. The variation in bounce is what surprises you. Because when they pitch the ball that eight-metre [from the stumps] length, your natural instinct is to pull it. But you have to go back to targeting straight, backing yourself, and if it does bounce, so be it."

Warner's comments come after he scored a steady 56 from 51 balls in Australia's opening win against Oman. The innings came after a disappointing IPL, which led to some criticism of his selection ahead of rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk.

"It [the criticism] doesn't fuel me. It's in one ear, out the other," Warner said. "I don't understand why it's all about myself. There are 11 players in the team. I don't get it."

"People feel like they have to keep criticising the way I play. I don't know what it is. I have no answer as to why people write that. I have had it my whole career. I don't listen to it."

Sunday's Group B clash has become crucial for England after their shared points with Scotland. A loss to Australia would leave them in danger of being eliminated from the tournament, as Scotland beat Namibia on Friday.

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