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Warner may have played last Test with veteran opener heading home from India tour

21st February, 2023
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21st February, 2023
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Veteran opener David Warner will play no further part in the tour of India after Australia decided to send him home due to the arm injury he suffered in the second Test. 

Scans revealed a small fracture to his elbow during his eventful first innings knock of 15 in which he also copped a blow to the head which led to him being subbed out of the match in Delhi due to the concussion protocols. 

Warner went sightseeing in India with his family after the team’s second straight defeat inside three days.

The NSW 36-year-old may return for the ODIs later in the tour but his abrupt exit from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series raises questions about whether the struggling left-hander has played his last game of Test cricket.

Travis Head, who filled in for Warner at the top of the order in the second innings, will remain Usman Khawaja’s opening partner with Cameron Green set to bolster the middle order. 

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“Warner was struck on the elbow in the second Test in Delhi and sustained a hairline fracture,” Cricket Australia announced in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

NAGPUR, INDIA - FEBRUARY 09: David Warner of Australia is bowled by Mohammed Shami of India during day one of the First Test match in the series between India and Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on February 09, 2023 in Nagpur, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

David Warner is bowled by Mohammed Shami. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

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“After further assessment, he will require a period of rehabilitation which will preclude any further involvement in the remainder of the Test series.

“It is currently anticipated that he will return to India for the three ODIs which follow the Test series.”

Experienced quick Josh Hazlewood has already left the 18-man squad and flown back to Sydney after battling to overcome a persistent achilles injury.

The 32-year-old has played just three of Australia’s last 16 Tests due to niggling injury issues over the past two years.

Captain Pat Cummins flew home after Australia’s six-wicket loss in Delhi on Sunday because of a serious family illness, but is expected to return for the third Test in Indore, starting on March 1.

Warner’s position in the Test team was already under a cloud after he was down on form for the majority of the last three years.

The left-hander entered the Boxing Day Test in December – his 100th match – under extreme pressure to retain his spot.

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But he scored a classic 200 to end a Test century drought dating back to January 2020 and book his spot for a third red-ball tour of India.

“If Dave’s unavailable it would make perfect sense,” coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday of opening with Head. “We did discuss before coming over here that if we were to lose an opening batter that Trav would be one we’d look to put up there.

NAGPUR, INDIA - FEBRUARY 11: Pat Cummins of Australia speaks with coach Andrew McDonald during day three of the First Test match in the series between India and Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on February 11, 2023 in Nagpur, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Pat Cummins with coach Andrew McDonald during the India tour. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“We feel in the subcontinental conditions that he can get off to the fast starts which he showed.”

Warner is averaging 45.47 from 103 Tests, hitting 25 centuries – the eighth most by an Australian.

There have been warning signs the end is near for Warner, with the NSW star explaining he felt “exhausted, tired” ahead of this blockbuster tour.

Warner has previously said he wanted to continue playing Tests until at least the end of this year’s Ashes in England – a country where he has also had trouble making runs.

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He is not Australia’s only injury concern, with new spin sensation Todd Murphy picking up a “slight niggle” in his side.

But Murphy bowled with the injury during the second Test and should be right to play in Indore.

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