David Warner’s tour of India is OVER as veteran opener follows Pat Cummins back to Australia
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David Warner’s tour of India is OVER as the veteran starter follows Pat Cummins back to Australia after a broken elbow and concussion see him miss the tourists’ second innings collapse in the second Test .
- David Warner left India after suffering a broken elbow in the second Test
- Veteran starter didn’t bat in Australia’s second innings at Delhi
- Warner will not play in the remaining two Tests in Indore and Ahmedabad
Veteran opener David Warner will leave Australia’s tour of India after suffering a concussion and broken elbow in the second Test.
The lefty will fly back to Sydney on Wednesday and will miss Australia’s final two Tests against India in Indore and Ahmedabad.
Australia is unlikely to call up a replacement player for Warner with all-rounder Cameron Green set to return from a finger injury to bat at No.6 in the third Test.
The tourists are 2-0 down in the four Test series and their hopes of recapturing the Border-Gavaskar trophy are now over.
After scoring a tough 15 on Friday, Warner was substituted from the match in Delhi before playing on the second day after failing a concussion test.
David Warner will return home to Australia after suffering a concussion in the second Test
The veteran starter broke his elbow in the second Test after being hit by Mohammad Shami.
Team officials say the injury would not have prevented Warner from batting in the second inning in Delhi, but he was ruled out of the game with a concussion.
He was replaced in the XI by Matt Renshaw, but No. 5 Travis Head started in Australia’s second innings and scored the most with 43.
Warner’s position in the Test team was already under a cloud after he was out of form for the better part of the last three years.
The left-hander entered the Boxing Day Test in December, his 100th match, under extreme pressure to retain his place.
But he scored a classic 200 to end a Test century drought dating back to January 2020 and book his place for a third red-ball tour of India.
“If Dave isn’t available, it would make a lot of sense,” coach Andrew McDonald said of opening Head.
Warner hit 1, 10 and 15 in three innings in India as his average dropped to 21.78.
Pat Cummins flew back to Australia for personal reasons on Monday, but is expected to return to India in time to lead the team into the third test in Indore, which starts on March 1.
The tourists have lost the first two Tests within three days of the batting collapse.
‘We discussed before we came here that if we lost a leadoff hitter, Trav would be one we would look to put up there.
“We feel that in the subcontinental conditions he can get the quick starts that he showed.”
Warner is not Australia’s only injury concern, as new spin sensation Todd Murphy has a “bit of a problem” on his side.
But Murphy played through the injury during the second Test and should be right to play for Indore.