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‘Highly doubtful’: David Warner on being 100 percent fit for Sydney Test vs India

Dixit Bhargav
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'Highly doubtful': David Warner on being 100 percent fit for Sydney Test vs India

David Warner: The Australian opening batsman is working hard to be at this utmost best before the New Year’s Test against India.

Australia opening batsman David Warner, who had previously batted for opening the batting with Joe Burns in the ongoing Test series against India, now claims the same to be selectors’ call.

“It’s not my question to answer in that sense of who I want, at the end of the day it’s who the selectors feel comfortable with, if they want two changes, one change, I’m not too sure,” Warner told the reporters on Saturday.

With Australia dropping opening batsman Joe Burns for the remaining two Tests, they will have to make a change at the top of the order. Depending on how Warner and uncapped batsman Will Pucovski’s injuries heal, they both might be seen opening the batting in the New Year’s Test against India from January 7.

“The way Wadey [Matthew Wade] applied his pressure the other day was great, he put his hand up to bat at the top of the order which was a brave move as well because he hasn’t done that before.

“Whether or not Will’s [Pucovski] there or Wadey’s there, I know that whoever is up the other end, we know each other’s game enough to apply pressure [on the Indian bowlers],” Warner said.

David Warner remains unsure of attaining 100% fitness levels before the third Test

Speaking to Channel 7 during the Boxing Day Test, Australia coach Justin Langer wasn’t entirely sure about Warner’s comeback in the third Test. Now part of the Test squad, Warner opened up on his fitness saying that he is “highly doubtful” of being 100% for the third Test.

“I haven’t ran the last couple of days. Today and tomorrow will give me a better indication of where I am. Am I going to be 100 per cent? Highly doubtful. But I’m doing everything I can to get on that park and play, even if that means I’m not 100 per cent,” Warner added.

In addition to just having a run, Warner also revealed that the injury doesn’t allow him to play certain shots. The 34-year old player also admitted that up in the air fitness level has it in it to have an adverse effect on his batting partner’s knock.

“At the moment, there’s a few shots [that are restricted] where you’re lunging but for me it’s about speed between wickets. It doesn’t matter what shots I can and can’t play.

“It’s about the drop and run, helping the guy at the other end get off strike, they’re the things I work on and they’re the things I like to be 100 per cent fit for. In this case, I’m most likely not going to be but I’m going to have to work out myself in advance how I’m going to manage that,” Warner further said.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Dixit Bhargav

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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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