Crash: ‘No guarantees’ as brave Warner faces mortality

News that he was concussed and also had a broken arm while making 15 on day one of the Delhi said a lot about the fact that the warrior spirit in him hasn’t faded even if his touch seemingly has.Warner is still up for the fight but the challenge is greater than ever as bowlers, sensing his decline, are targeting him with the aggression he once used to unleash on them.Mohammed Siraj uncorked a fierce bouncer attack from nowhere on day one of the Test in what seemed a premeditated plan to unsettle Warner, a most unusual tactic on flat Indian decks.The fact that it worked means there will be more of it on the menu. The sharks are circling.So what will the selectors make of his arm, his head, his form and his future?Australia would ideally not want Warner finish his career being subbed out of a Test and there is no doubt no decision will be rushed without widespread consultation.But there are no guarantees in Test cricket. Ask Brad Haddin, who withdrew from a Test in England to be with his ill daughter and he never played again.Usman Khawaja got recalled because Travis Head got Covid and Marcus Harris got squeezed out indefinitely after Khawaja caught fire. Sentiment and credit points are never ignored but winning matters most, especially in the big series.Follow Australia v India live 🏏 second test Will David Warner be in Australia's Ashes team?And Head himself, looked as fluent as a mountain stream when he opened the batting in Warner’s absence on day two after Warner was ruled out of the game. His rollicking 39 not out off 40 balls made him look made for the role. Now the selectors have made the huge decision to recall Head after dropping him for the first Test, how could they possibly drop him if he turns this strong start into a major score?Two key decisions will be made on Warner’s future — does he return for this series with his slightly fractured arm and concussion issues and does he tour England last this year?Australia’s resurgence on day two of the Delhi Test could help Warner.If Australia wins this Test they may be reluctant to rock the apple cart by dropping such a senior, long serving player when the boat is riding high in the water even though the end is clearly nigh.Warner has been one of Australian Test cricket’s greatest warriors but the strain of being an all format player may have taken its toll.Before leaving for India he admitted to being exhausted.His boyhood buddy and opening partner Khawaja said earlier in the summer that it simply made sense that although he and Warner are the same age Khawaja may have had more petrol left in the tank because he has not been travelling the globe as an all format whiz for the past decade.At his best Warner radiates hostile vibes which unsettle opposition attacks but keen judges such as Test batsman and Fox Cricket analyst Mike Hussey have noted a stark change of tempo.“He just doesn’t look himself at the moment,’’ Hussey said on Fox Cricket.“He looked tentative. Took him 21 balls to get off the mark and that was the one that got him in the head and that was a real nasty blow. And again he’s just very late on that ball and not looking for the short ball at all.“At his best he comes out, he’s positive, he’s aggressive, he’s putting the pressure back on the bowlers no matter who they are, no matter what the conditions are.“We’ve seen him play some amazing innings on difficult pitches in the past. But here he just looked a bit tentative. He just looked to hang in there and survive. And that’s when you’ve got the likes of Shami and Siraj, they’re going to smell that and they’re going to come even harder at him and eventually got his wicket.’’Updates to story

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February 19, 2023 at 12:30AM
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News that he was concussed and also had a broken arm while making 15 on day one of the Delhi said a lot about the fact that the warrior spirit in him hasn’t faded even if his touch seemingly has.Warner is still up for the fight but the challenge is greater than ever as bowlers, sensing his decline, are targeting him with the aggression he once used to unleash on them.Mohammed Siraj uncorked a fierce bouncer attack from nowhere on day one of the Test in what seemed a premeditated plan to unsettle Warner, a most unusual tactic on flat Indian decks.The fact that it worked means there will be more of it on the menu. The sharks are circling.So what will the selectors make of his arm, his head, his form and his future?Australia would ideally not want Warner finish his career being subbed out of a Test and there is no doubt no decision will be rushed without widespread consultation.But there are no guarantees in Test cricket. Ask Brad Haddin, who withdrew from a Test in England to be with his ill daughter and he never played again.Usman Khawaja got recalled because Travis Head got Covid and Marcus Harris got squeezed out indefinitely after Khawaja caught fire. Sentiment and credit points are never ignored but winning matters most, especially in the big series.Follow Australia v India live 🏏 second test Will David Warner be in Australia's Ashes team?And Head himself, looked as fluent as a mountain stream when he opened the batting in Warner’s absence on day two after Warner was ruled out of the game. His rollicking 39 not out off 40 balls made him look made for the role. Now the selectors have made the huge decision to recall Head after dropping him for the first Test, how could they possibly drop him if he turns this strong start into a major score?Two key decisions will be made on Warner’s future — does he return for this series with his slightly fractured arm and concussion issues and does he tour England last this year?Australia’s resurgence on day two of the Delhi Test could help Warner.If Australia wins this Test they may be reluctant to rock the apple cart by dropping such a senior, long serving player when the boat is riding high in the water even though the end is clearly nigh.Warner has been one of Australian Test cricket’s greatest warriors but the strain of being an all format player may have taken its toll.Before leaving for India he admitted to being exhausted.His boyhood buddy and opening partner Khawaja said earlier in the summer that it simply made sense that although he and Warner are the same age Khawaja may have had more petrol left in the tank because he has not been travelling the globe as an all format whiz for the past decade.At his best Warner radiates hostile vibes which unsettle opposition attacks but keen judges such as Test batsman and Fox Cricket analyst Mike Hussey have noted a stark change of tempo.“He just doesn’t look himself at the moment,’’ Hussey said on Fox Cricket.“He looked tentative. Took him 21 balls to get off the mark and that was the one that got him in the head and that was a real nasty blow. And again he’s just very late on that ball and not looking for the short ball at all.“At his best he comes out, he’s positive, he’s aggressive, he’s putting the pressure back on the bowlers no matter who they are, no matter what the conditions are.“We’ve seen him play some amazing innings on difficult pitches in the past. But here he just looked a bit tentative. He just looked to hang in there and survive. And that’s when you’ve got the likes of Shami and Siraj, they’re going to smell that and they’re going to come even harder at him and eventually got his wicket.’’Updates to story