Explosive Australian opener David Warner has been ruled out of the opening Day-Night Test in Adelaide, of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, against India, starting December 17. He is currently nursing a groin injury and is unlikely to get fit in time for the first of the four-Test series.
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Warner tore his groinadductor while fielding during the second ODI in Sydney, as scans reveal that he would need to make a quick recovery to be fit for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting December 17. Consequently, he was ruled out of the final One-Day International (ODI) in Canberra, besides entirely missing out on the Twenty20 Internationals (T20I).
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"I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it's best for me to stay here, in Sydney, to continue working on getting back to full fitness. The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my teammates that it is 100 per cent ready for Test match conditions," said Warner, reports ESPNCricinfo.
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"That includes running between the wickets and being agile in the field. Right now, I feel I am short of being able to play at peak fitness and another 10 days will make a difference," Warner added.
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Meanwhile, Australian head coach Justin Langer sounded confident of Warner returning for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 26. "If there is one guy you know will go well above and beyond, that's Dave. He has done an incredible job to get to where he is today and we hope to have a fully fit David Warner at his absolute best in Melbourne," he reckoned.
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As for Warner's replacement in the top-order, either of Will Pucovski or Joe Burns likely are to open for Australia, along with Marnus Labushagne. Furthermore, Pucovski recent concussion scare in the drawn three-day practice game against India A is likely to put Burns on the driver's seat. Also, Marcus Harris is expected to get added to the Test squad, in case Pucovski is ruled out as well.
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"Joe Burns, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott and Mitchell Swepson will derive great benefit from playing high quality against the pink ball in the final tour match. All have enjoyed an excellent preparation for the Vodafone Test series and the NSP believes a final hit-out against India's bowlers under lights will round it out nicely," said Australian selector Trevor Hohns.
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