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Border believes Warner has the capability of helping Australia win the Ashes

Legendary Australia captain Allan Border has “strongly” criticised Cricket Australia’s decision to ship opening batsman David Warner off to South Africa with the Australia A team during a crucial Ashes series, in which England currently have a 2-0 lead.

Warner was suspended till the start of the Ashes by Cricket Australia for punching England’s Joe Root at the Walkabout bar in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy and recently decided to send him to South Africa in order for him to gain some much-needed match practice.

“I get the thinking, send him to South Africa and Zimbabwe to find form and bring him back later in the series, but I strongly disagree with it,” Border wrote in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald. “It defies belief David Warner is about to leave the Ashes tour for an Australia A tour of Africa.”

Warner’s last represented Australia in a Test match back in March against India, where he scored 195 runs in eight innings at a dismal average of 24.37.

However, despite his failures with the bat as of late, Border believes Warner could be a game-changer due to his unorthodox style of play and attacking mindset.

“He would be far better served facing (Australia pacer) James Pattinson in the nets,” Border added. “The standard of bowling he will face in Africa and the conditions will be chalk and cheese to the challenges that await him in England.”