Ashes 2017/18: All 10 Test opening partners of David Warner

A conventionally correct technique, solid defence, expertise against the short ball, patience, and judgment of when to play or leave deliveries are the uncanny characteristics that make up the DNA of an opening batsman.

However, Australia's David Warner, with an aptitude for quick scoring, is a unique talent.

Steven Smith & co. are set to host Joe Root's men in the 70th edition of cricket's most riveting rivalry from November 23rd at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The opening shots have already been fired off the field and in less than 24 hours the on-field battle will get underway at the 'Gabbatoir'.

The hosts' unsettled XI are ready to spearhead Australia's bid to reclaim the urn.

The game of musical chairs, as far as Warner's opening partners is concerned, continues.

Despite an injury threat, the 31-year-old is all set to embark on a new journey with his 10th Test opening partner in the last six years.

Now, let's chronicle all the opening partners of Warner since he made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2011.

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Cameron Bancroft

Bancroft is set to debut in the 2017 Ashes

Cameron Bancroft, who nudged Matt Renshaw out of the picture, will, on November 23, become the first opener to debut in an Ashes series since Michael Slater in 1993.

The 25-year-old, who has played for Gloucestershire in the County Championship, will also become Warner's 10th opening partner in Test cricket.

Bancroft was previously picked for the tour of Bangladesh which was cancelled on security grounds in 2015.

With attributes like patience and concentration, Bancroft can be the ideal foil for the free-flowing Warner.

Bancroft scored a double hundred for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month to prove his mettle as a technically sound opener.

The man, who is aspiring to be Australia's batting mainstay, is also on a mission to turn himself into the best short leg fielder in the world.

Glenn Maxwell

The experiment of having Maxwell as an opener did not pay off

In 2013, during the Kotla Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Maxwell opened the innings for Australia along with Warner.

In the second innings of the match, Maxwell, who is known to be a good player of spin, was sent out ahead of Ed Cowan to start the proceedings.

The Aussie experiment did not pay off, as the openers were able to add just 15 runs for the first wicket before being removed by Ravindra Jadeja, the Man of the Match.

Usman Khawaja

Khawaja has opened the batting with Warner and Renshaw

In the 2017 Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Usman Khawaja, who normally bats for Australia at number three, was sent to open the second innings.

Matt Renshaw (184) and Warner (113) took Australia to a mammoth 538/8, before Steven Smith declared the innings.

Batting at three in the first innings, Khawaja had managed to score just 13 runs but in the second innings, he remained unbeaten on 79 as Australia beat Pakistan by 220 runs and won the series 3-0.

Khawaja had earlier opened the batting with Matt Renshaw against South Africa in December 2016, where he ended up scoring 145 in the first innings.

Shane Watson

Watson was the Man of the Match in the 2013 Test against England

Shane Watson, who had opened the batting for Australia with Ed Cowan against India and Chris Rogers against England, found his third opening partner of 2013 in David Warner.

In the fifth Test of the Test series against England, Watson scored 176, coming in to bat after Warner's fall in the first innings.

However, Watson, later adjudged Man of the Match, managed to score just 26 runs when he opened for the second time, with his regular ODI opening partner Warner.

The match was drawn and England won the five-match series 3-0.

Phillip Hughes

Phil Hughes opened with Warner in two Tests in 2011

The late Phil Hughes was Warner's first opening partner in Test cricket, when he made his debut against New Zealand at the Gabba in 2011.

Hughes and Warner played the two 2011 Tests together as opening partners, scoring 134 runs in four innings.

Hughes passed away on November 27, 2014, succumbing to his injuries after being struck by a bouncer during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The South Australian batsman was knocked out after the ball hit him on the back of his neck.

Warner has insisted that every time he scores runs, he scores it for the late Australian left-hander.

Chris Rogers

Rogers retired after the end of the 2015 Ashes

Chris Rogers had been the most consistent partner of David Warner as far as opening the Australian Test innings is concerned.

Although as per media reports, the two openers didn't get along too well, their opening record has been quite impressive, to say the least.

The pair scored 2053 runs from 41 innings, with an average opening stand of 51.32.

The then 37-year-old Rogers retired from international cricket after the fifth Ashes 2015 Test at Kia Oval, leaving an opening slot in the Test batting line-up wide open.

Shaun Marsh

Marsh could not make much impact on the 2017 India tour

Between 2015 and 2017, Shaun Marsh has opened the Australian innings on nine occasions in 10 Tests.

In the second Test of the 2015 series against the West Indies, Marsh and Warner were involved in a second innings opening partnership of 117, as the visitors won the series 2-0.

When South Africa toured Australia in 2016, Warner-Marsh stitched up an opening partnership of 158 in the first Test at Perth.

The duo could not make much impact as an opening pair against India in the 2017 Test series played between the two countries.

Joe Burns

The Burns-Warner partnership fizzled out after a roaring start

Between 2015 and 2016, Australia experimented with another Test opening pair: David Warner and Joe Burns.

In their first match together as openers, Burns and Warner were involved in two big opening stands of 161 and 237 against New Zealand in 2015, but they failed to click as a pair in their following endeavours.

Both Burns and Warner continued to flourish as openers individually, but could not produce any memorable partnership in the 10 Test matches they played together as openers after that first game in Brisbane.

Matt Renshaw

Renshaw was in the reckoning for an Ashes spot

Matt Renshaw, who was in line to be picked for the upcoming Ashes series, had been David Warner's Test opening partner since South Africa toured Australia in 2016.

Renshaw and Warner had been involved in a number of decent opening stands but they came into limelight as a lethal combo when they tormented Pakistan in the 2017 Test in Sydney.

With an opening partnership of 151, Warner (113) and Renshaw (184) led the hosts to a huge score of 538 that eventually helped Australia win the match and bag the series 3-0.

Ed Cowan

Cowan played his last Test against India in 2013

David Warner and Ed Cowan were brought together as an opening pair during India's tour of Australia in 2011-12.

Despite Cowan and Warner's average performances at the top, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting starred with the bat and led the hosts to mammoth scores, eventually winning the Test series 4-0.

The highest partnership that Cowan (86) and Warner (71) brought up together was worth 139 in a Test against India at Chandigarh in 2013, their previous best being 132 against Sri Lanka in 2012 at Hobart.