David Warner has been ruled out of the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval, compounding Australia’s top-order woes.
Australia face a shortage at the top of the order after David Warner’s injured groin ruled him out of the first Test against India in Adelaide.
Just a day after likely debutant Will Pucovski copped a blow to the head in a tour match and was left in serious doubt, Warner’s fate was sealed on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old confirmed he would not recover in time from the groin injury suffered in an ODI late last month, instead switching his focus towards Boxing Day.
“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,” Warner said.
“The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my team-mates that it is 100 per cent ready for Test match conditions.
“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’s news came as Australia prepared to finalise their plans for the next week in the lead up to the Test.
All eyes will remain on Pucovski and how he recovers from his latest head knock, with the 22-year-old showing signs of mild concussion on Tuesday afternoon.
His blow to the helmet in the drawn match against the Indians almost immediately ruled him out of this weekend’s last warm-up game, but his availability has not been determined beyond that.
Regardless though, the situation is a difficult one for the talented right-hander.
The latest bout of concussion was his ninth and came just nine days out from what would have been a certain Test debut now Warner has been ruled out.
Marcus Harris is poised to be added to Australia’s Test squad as cover, while Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja could be other options.
There remain issues at the other end given Joe Burns’ poor form.
Burns has scored more than 11 just once in seven first-class innings this summer, for an average of just 8.71.
His scores of four and zero in the Australia A match against the tourists would have done little to fill the selectors with faith.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc remains away on compassionate grounds, although at this stage there is no suggestion he could miss the Test series opener.
Josh Hazlewood sat out the final two games of the Twenty20 series with back soreness but is also not in any doubt for the Test.
Selectors must also decide whether to give Cameron Green a chance in the middle order in the first Test after he hit 125 not out in the tour match and took two wickets.
No he wasnt. What were you on during the Tour of SA/UAE when both Marsh's, flopped spectacularly. Shaun Marsh had the worst 7-8 innings in a row in history, so dont perpetuate the myth he "was better last time". he was also meant to be our rock in the middle against India in 2018, and you guessed it....he flopped hard again.
Anth
Roar Rookie
Yes, I read that story in this morning's paper, and could not believe what I was reading. Look Burns may come good next match but at the moment he looks confused and both his dismissals in the tour match were bloody horrendous. The last thing I would want anyone telling him is that he is a walk up start to the first Test, as it currently stands he is merely a wicket looking for some place to fall.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
It appears that neither SMarsh nor Khawaja are being considered because they had poor series against this same bowling attack two years ago. This is harsh on Khawaja as he was expected to step up and star in Warner and Smith's absence - while this was not an unreasonable expectation, the reality is that Khawaja was never destined to be the best batsman in a test line up. If he's your 3rd best batsman then you have a reasonably strong line up whereas if he's your best bat you have a mediocre one at test level. However, with Smith and Labuschagne there, even with Warner not, then Khawaja would slot in much more comfortably than two home summers ago.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I just saw a story with Gilchrist suggesting the selectors should just tell Burns that he's locked in for the test before this next Australia A match so he can feel freer to just go out and bat or something. I don't really get that though. We need players to be able to perform under pressure, not just try everything to remove pressure to hope that can help him perform. These same people talk about how it's good to have players in domestic cricket doing well and putting pressure on the guys in the test team to have to keep performing to hold their spots, but then talk about needing to take the selection pressure off the player as they can perform better without that pressure. If they tell Burns he's playing in the first test regardless and then he plays two innings in this match where he gets completely worked over, and looks out of his depth before nicking one for a single figure score each time, can you really still go with him? We will know pretty soon though. If they are going to consider Khawaja and/or Marsh, then they will need to be drafted into the squads really quickly to maintain their whole bubble things unless they consider going from one bubble to another (BBL bubble to test bubble) doesn't need any real quarantine time.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Burns Harris Marnus Smith Head Wade or...... Burns Marnus Smith Head Wade Green/Marsh/Finch If Marsh is in the discussion then he should be in the middle order. On the remote chance Finch is talked about the same applies. But if Marnus opens then Green could come in at 6.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Ian Chappell would be delighted to have Simpson back!
Kalva
Roar Rookie
That lineup looks awfully similar to the batting lineup that played in the Sydney Test vs India 2 years ago...only Smith and the debutant Green are the changes...
Steve
Guest
The same goes for Shaun's younger brother Mitchell, he was really short changed in the measly 32 tests he got to prove himself, it would be wonderful for him to improve on his batting average of 25 and bowling average of 38.
steve
Guest
Yeah im with you on that, Its only test match cricket, doesnt hold much weight in my book,
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
What kind of back tracking?
Brian
Guest
That would mean no Khawaja or Marsh if they're going to be playing BBL as a warm up. Its a surprise because I can't see how Pucovski will play. So it seems to me Burns will play if he can score any sort of runs. If he fails and Pucovski doesn't play then eith erMaddinson scores big and opens or Wade or Labu get promoted
Adsa
Roar Rookie
How is Nic Maddisons form as opener going this year?
jameswm
Roar Guru
A lot of back tracking in there.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Umpires for match according to googled scorecard are Ian Robinson and Darryl Hair. Youtube clip only has only umpire's back to viewer when wicket falls but it looks like Hair's shape. Why do u ask Tiger?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
p-ss off you're out!
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
That would be awesome. Lol
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yep, on YouTube. Commentary didn’t say, but it Hair I sure.
Josso
Guest
You'd have to think Burns and WP are both liabilities for Adelaide. Burns can't hit a run, and WP is unfit. Khawaja averages 98 opening. Surely he opens, just who with? If Burns scores SOME runs, or takes the shine off the ball, he probably plays. If he single digits, then it's someone alongside ussie - maybe Harris, who isn't great. For mine, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are set, they all deserve their spots, and their starting to create a strong middle order. Head isn't a four, so I wouldn't push Lab or SS up. Green might make an appearance later in the summer, but not the first test (maybe 4 once the series is wrapped up, ala H. Cartwright - who looked okay on debut, but was jettisoned for no apparent reason ...).
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
and what a ‘rangger’ Chris Rogers was
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
a 'mad' catch ...