Australia’s cricket team has been struck with another blow as opener David Warner will miss the remainder of the Test series against India due to an elbow injury.
During Australia’s first innings in the second Test in Delhi, Warner hurt his elbow and was subsequently substituted out of the match with concussion.
Warner’s scans revealed a hairline fracture, and the 36-year-old will return home to Australia to recover.
A statement from Cricket Australia read, “David Warner has been ruled out of the Test tour of India and will return home. 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 One-Day Internationals which follow the Test Series.”
This is another setback for Australia, as they are already missing the services of Josh Hazlewood for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Test series due to Achilles tendonitis.
Hazlewood picked up the injury during the New Year’s Test against South Africa in Sydney last month.
His unavailability prompted Scott Boland’s inclusion in the first Test in Nagpur before Australia opted for a 3-1 spin-pace combination in the second Test in Delhi.
Hazlewood will now fly back home to continue his rehabilitation programme in Sydney.
Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed Hazlewood’s unavailability and expressed uncertainty over David Warner, who had sustained an elbow injury during the Delhi Test and was subsequently subbed out of the game with a concussion. “Josh Hazlewood is out, he’ll be going home.”
McDonald said on Monday, February 20. “We’re in no rush to make any decisions at this point in time around Davey. Just seeing how that settles, how functional that is.”
Travis Head, who top-scored in Australia’s unimpressive second innings in Delhi with a stroke-filled 43, is likely to partner with Usman Khawaja at the top in the next two Tests if Warner fails to recover.
“If Dave’s unavailable, it would make perfect sense,” McDonald said. “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.”
“We feel in the subcontinental conditions that he can get off to fast starts which he showed.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, both of whom were out of action recently with finger injuries, are expected to be fit and available for the third Test, having narrowly missed out on playing in Delhi.
Skipper Pat Cummins has flown back home for family reasons, but is expected to be back in time to lead the side in the third Test, which will be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore from March 1.
In conclusion, Australia’s injury woes continue to worsen as they lose David Warner for the remainder of the Test series against India due to an elbow injury.
However, the team is hopeful that the return of Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, as well as the expected return of skipper Pat Cummins, will help them bounce back in the upcoming matches.
