David Warner has been formally ruled out of the Adelaide test due to his groin strain, further reducing Australia’s selection options for the series opener against India next week.
With a heavy cloud over Will Pucovski due to a concussion scare at the closings of the Drummoyne Oval Tour game on Tuesday, and the continuing streak of low scores from Joe Burns, coach Justin Langer and selectors Trevor Hohns and George Bailey will they will be tempted to add the likes of Usman Khawaja or even Shaun Marsh to the Adelaide team.
Despite doing his best to get back into shape in time, Warner and the team’s medical staff concluded that he would not be fully capable of running across the grounds or fielding with his usual verve, two key elements of his test game of high pace.
“I feel like I’ve made great progress in a short time and it’s best for me to stay here in Sydney to keep working to get back in top shape,” Warner said. “The injury feels much better, but I need to be able to be satisfied in my own mind and in my teammates that he is 100% ready for the conditions of the test matches.
“That includes running between the fields and being agile on the field. Right now I feel like I need to be able to play my best physically and another 10 days will make a difference.”
Langer said he was extremely confident that Warner would be ready in time for the second test at MCG on Boxing Day.
“If there’s one guy you know will go a lot further, that’s Dave,” Langer said. “He has done an incredible job getting where he is today and we look forward to having a David Warner in top form at his best in Melbourne.
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