SCG Test: Tim Paine confirms David Warner’s availability for Sydney Test; hints at more changes in Playing XI vs India

Tim Paine confirms David Warner’s availability: The Australian Test captain has all but confirmed the experienced opener’s return.

Australia opening batsman David Warner will play a Test match after a year when Australia take on India at the Sydney Cricket Ground tomorrow.

Warner, who had missed the first two Tests due to a groin injury, has recovered to the extent that he will open the batting in the New Year’s Test. The same was all but confirmed by Australia Test captain Tim Paine who was speaking in a media conference in Sydney on Wednesday morning.

“Davey’s [David Warner] been awesome, he brings really high intensity and fills guys with confidence around him. He’s a player that you love having on your side.

“He’s always got plenty to say, really energetic, very professional and I’ve always loved playing. He’s a player in this team guys love to have in the side, so he’s made an instant impact with that energy and intensity that he brings,” Paine said about Warner’s comeback.

Tim Paine confirms David Warner’s availability

With Warner coming back, Australia have confirmed that the southpaw will replace Joe Burns at the top of the order. However, Paine didn’t shy away from stating that the hosts are likely to make more changes to their XI.

If the build-up to the third Test to be believed, uncapped batsman Will Pucovski will be handed a Test debut tomorrow and will open the batting alongside Warner.

After the likes of Chris Rogers, Phil Hughes, Ed Cowan, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris, Pucovski will become Warner’s 12th opening partner within a decade.

In such a situation, makeshift opener Matthew Wade will return to his usual position in the middle-order. Former vice-captain Travis Head, who had received severe criticism from former Australia captain Ian Chappell last month, is the most likeliest to vacate a middle-order spot for Wade.

“We’ve got a team but we’re just not releasing it at the moment. The boys are still training so we’ll get through that first, unscathed and then we’ll try to get a team out as quickly as we can after that. Obviously with David playing and potentially more, there’s some conversations that need to be had first,” Paine added.