Will David Warner play in the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India?

Will David Warner play in the Boxing Day Test: The Australian opening batsman had missed the first Test due to a groin injury.

Australia’s opening pair of Joe Burns and Matthew Wade will continue to open the batting for them in the second Test against India beginning from December 26 in Melbourne.

The development is all but confirmed after reports of opening batsman David Warner being ruled out of the Boxing Day Test. Warner, who had missed the first Test due to a groin injury, seems highly unlikely for the second one for he is yet to register an ideal recovery.

Coming on the back of a thumping 8-wicket victory in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, Australia have little reasons to change their Playing XI for the MCG Test.

However, a week-long gap before the third Test in Sydney should be enough for Warner to recover from his groin injury. If the same happens, Australia will be bound to make a tough call in a bid to accommodate Warner.

While the southpaw will open the batting without a doubt, the fortunes of Burns, Wade, Travis Head and Cameron Green will depend on how well they perform at the MCG.

.@simon_odonnell on Matthew Wade: “I think Matthew Wade has signed his own death warrant, just from being a really good team man and doing the right thing. When David Warner’s ready to come back in, he comes straight back in; the guys who goes is Mathew Wade.”

— Garry and Tim (@SENBreakfast) December 20, 2020

If Australia chose to open with Warner and Burns, Wade could move to his usual No. 6 position which would mean an ouster for Green. If the hosts chose to stick with a fifth bowling option in Green, one out of Wade or Head will have to sit out.

Burns, who was struggling for form before scoring a half-century in a 90-run chase, could also be made to sit out provided he doesn’t score as many runs in Melbourne. In such a scenario, Wade could continue as an opening batsman with Head and Green batting at No. 5 and 6 respectively.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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