Australia Australia’s India tour: Big tweak for hosts, veteran opener David Werner confirmed on Wednesday that he will not be available for the Test series opener. Warner suffered a groin injury during the second ODI and was left out of the limited overs series.
1st Australia will miss England opener David Werner in the first Test match (AFP photo)
Highlights
- David will not take part in the Adelaide Day-Night Test against India
- Warner has recovered from a groin injury sustained during the ODI series
- India and Australia will play Australia 4 Test matches from December 17
Cricket Australia said on Wednesday that it had dropped Australian opener David Warner from the first Test of the much-anticipated four-match series against India starting on December 17. Werner suffered a groin injury during the ODI series and continued to recover from it during rehabilitation in Sydney.
David warns Said he is happy with the recovery but wants to be 100 per cent fit before he takes the field for Australia in the Test series. Warner expects the B Day Xing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This news is a big tweak for Australia, which is yet to reach the opening combination. Will Pukowski, who is auditioning for the role, received “mild signs” of relief after he was hit on the helmet during a practice day practice match against India A in Sydney on Tuesday.
Another 10 days will make a difference: Warner
“The injury feels very good, but I have to be able to convince myself and my teammates that he is 100 per cent ready for a Test match situation,” Warner said.
“It involves running between the wickets and being agile on the field. Right now I feel like I’m not able to play in peak fitness and another 10 days will make a difference.”
Warner was in great form during the ODI series and the hosts will lose their big hitting opener, which was also not part of their 1-2 defeat during 2018-19. Australia Australia will open with Joe Burns and wait for a clear picture on Pukowski.
From December 11, players from Australia and India will take part in a 3-day pink-ball match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as both teams will finalize the remaining places in the playing XI. India will be without Rohit Sharma as the opener is likely to lose the first 2 Tests.
Ravindra Jadeja maybe Also unavailable for the first Test, as India’s all-rounder nurses hate and hamstring injury. The in-form star missed the T20 series against Australia after being hit on a helmet during the final ODI.
Australia Australia head coach Justin Langer also hopes Warner will return for the Boxing Day Test.
If there is one person you know who will go above and beyond Dave. “He has done an incredible job of getting to where he is today and we hope David Warner will be fully fit to his full potential in Melbourne,” Langer said.
Freelance twitter maven. Infuriatingly humble coffee aficionado. Amateur gamer. Typical beer fan. Avid music scholar. Alcohol nerd.
