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.
David Warner is bowled by Mohammed Shami. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Rob
Guest
I actually believed Bancroft would have been a good selection in India last tour. He extremely fit with a cool temperament giving away little emotionally. The Indian players feed off any signs of self doubt or frustration. Technically Bancroft has a relatively short bat lift and quick reader of length and likes to play in the V. It would be something that I believe works well on low turning pitches. Unlike Warner he is willing to come forward and play with the pad as a secondary defence. Personally believe Renshaw and Bancroft would have been good opening in India.
Rob
Guest
Fortunate fracture???? I really feel for the blokes being parachuted in to face the Indian music. It’s grossly unfair to see others asked to step into the fire while favours will be again given to certain players when things aren’t so hot.
Clear as mud
Guest
which is why if they think there is anything like that that could come out, they are smart enough to get on the front foot. eg they would never have appointed Cummins captain. i imagine. and they could just go hard and say "we actually don't care. we never asked the SA bowlers if they knew when Faf and Philander kept getting done. we should never have allowed that line of inquiry. the ICC didn't care, and we're not sure any more why we did." i suspect nobody's got nothing
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Picked up a nice 80, just now.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Fast bowlers are "only dancing on the Earth for a short while" (C Stevens) Give Morris a go.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Boom boom..
13th Man
Roar Rookie
The treatment of Agar has been woeful. He should’ve played every game at the T20 World Cup, but Pat and Starc kept their places. He then got no red ball cricket at all, randomly got called up for a test in Sydney which got rained off then gets picked on India tour, misses the Scorchers BBL victory, then Kuhnemann leapfrogs him into the second test! Regardless of your thoughts on his ability, that is no way to treat a player. He was picked in the original squad, it makes little sense.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Sad thought, but it does seem that way
13th Man
Roar Rookie
That is interesting, I wasn’t aware there was such a vast difference between WACA and non WACA form. In fairness the first half of his career he was a wicketkeeper batting at 7 so that can certainly affect the averages, and then he had a shocking run with injury. I’d have to check but his numbers over the last couple of years would seem to be a bit better?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Jeff that’s interesting didn’t know whiteman played for Yorkshire . The problem is no opener has looked as solid as pucovski and renshaw , Bancroft and whiteman lead the way with pretty up and down innings at times . renshaw has just has a shocking run after covid at scg and bad weather then playing In india where the lot of them struggle and he hasnt had a chance to open when there is more bounce than facing jadeja low bouncing sliders and skidders in the 5 slot which is not even what he was bought in to squad foe if warner goes . All three candidates need 6 weeks in uk county pre ashes . not sure if that scheduling works either . smith is smart to go over early. Australia should now get Hazelwood Richardson fit for ashes too and not risk the former in India. wouldn’t mind Morris getting a test match in India the way this has all worked out I suppose his confidence could get hit if he gets tonked
Pierro
Roar Rookie
andrew you say that but many roarers were at me when I said warner can’t tour abroad again in 2019 let alone last summer. that posting has finally dissapeared for most part as they had to keep seeing the inevitable happen with him sadly . I had said in past sadly it will take Australia failing abroad to get warner out of side and it’s finally happened
Pierro
Roar Rookie
it would (well should ) be Bancroft or whiteman . two tests to go there they may just wing it with renshaw there and head the temporary opener . they need a lot more planning and preparation for the ashes as this series was a farce on that front for Australia
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Season 11: Winter Finally got Here
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Street?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Interesting; Bancroft has the pads on @50no at the same time he's at an airport. There would never have been a team in history so messed up by the second-guessing of it's selectors. Ashton Agar just said, on his arrival at Perth airport, that Tony Dodemaide told him they are not satisfied by his red ball form. They picked him to play red ball cricket for this tour yet he has played no cricket. To what 'form' does Dodemaide refer? When asked if he agreed, Agar said, "It doesn't matter if I agree or not. Nothing changes." He also said it's hard to develop a 'form' profile having "played something like only 3 red ball games in 3 years."
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Neither are Heazlett, Street, Jewell or Drew.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Which season are you looking at?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
There were plenty not happy about Warner. It was my "News from Home" whilst in India for two tests back then. The Dusty Park guys were all offering their help to fix Australia up
Chanon
Roar Rookie
@mudqueenschicago(fearless ladies as they grapple in fresh mud with its own band that rocks to each wrestling match. :thumbup:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm too scared :shocked: