David Warner was unable to return to the sector final night time after taking blows to his head and physique, as Usman Khawaja secured his passage to England in addition to a brand new million greenback deal.
It was unclear whether or not Warner’s points are concussion associated or whether or not there’s a completely different damage concern after he copped brutal deliveries to each his helmet and elbow on day one.
Warner made solely 15, however the health considerations put into context the toughness he confirmed to soldier on after the ruthless assault from Indian seamer Mohammed Shami.
It got here as Warner was warned he shall be a marked man within the Ashes and be met with comparable physique line ways in England, ought to he make it that far.
Australia’s 36-year-old, left-handed openers skilled various fortunes on day one of many second Test, with Khawaja’s heavy-duty 81 important within the context of not solely this Test however his future past India.
After making 195 not out within the Sydney Test, and greater than 1000 runs in 2022, the dominant innings in Delhi will certainly be sufficient to lock Khawaja in for the Ashes in a few months’ time.
There was a perky fluency about the best way Khawaja batted in troublesome circumstances, and his knock off 125 balls stood out because the innings of the day.
Warner battled exhausting for his 15 off 44 balls on day one of many second Test, however after some courageous batting finally fell sufferer to very good, focused bowling from Indian grasp, Mohammad Shami.
Test Godfather Allan Border admits selectors should talk about Warner’s future on the high of the order ought to he fail within the second innings and Australia lose the Test – however emphasised that the 36-year-old deserved an opportunity to “go out on his own terms.”
Former 310-wicket Test fast Lee stated if Warner chooses to go on to the Ashes later this 12 months, he can anticipate Ben Stokes’ arsenal of quicks to comply with the Shami blueprint of relentless around-the-wicket bowling which reminded him of one among England’s Ashes greats.
“He does need runs definitely. One and 10 in the first Test. Fifteen in this Test. He definitely needs a bucket of runs, but I just think it’s been really, really well constructed fast bowling to David Warner, coming around the wicket,” Lee stated on Fox Cricket.
“That dismissal from Shami was a bit like Andrew Flintoff the way he bowled over in England.
“That’s the way they’ll be bowling in England if he goes that far and chooses to go to England.
“But let’s worry about India. He has to get through this Test first and then a couple more on the back of that.
“Warner is due and he’s a quality player and I really hope for him and for Australia he can dominate.”
Border stated Warner’s profession was hanging within the steadiness, however warned there was nonetheless lots of water to go below the bridge on this second Test match.
“If you walk out there in the second innings and you get rock and rolled and we lose the Test match then all of a sudden the selectors start thinking, ‘we might have to start planning for the future a bit more,’” Border stated on Fox.
“And given his last tour of England was a horror, they might be thinking, ‘this is the time.’
“I don’t like talking about quality players and leaving them out willy-nilly. Give him a chance to go out on his own terms. We’ll wait and see how that all develops.”
Not that Khawaja was essentially below fast stress, however his Delhi dominance is well-timed with Cricket Australia to pick its contract rankings checklist in April and the Queenslander now effectively and actually deserving of a top-10 deal.
The final thing Australia wants is for Khawaja and Warner to be exiting the crew on the identical time.
Warner did rating a double hundred solely three Test matches in the past and selectors have already said that they see his expertise as very important of their Test match journey this 12 months, which is more likely to embody a Test Championship Final earlier than the Ashes.
If Australia loses the second Test and Warner misses out within the second innings, this sequence shall be gone anyway and any choice about his future must be based mostly on the Ashes and never India.
The lingering query stays, who is definitely poised to take over from Warner?
Matthew Renshaw was axed for the second Test himself to accommodate the return of Travis Head and was unconvincing within the first Test in opposition to spin.
Warner is a 100-Test nice and one of many world’s best ever opening batsmen, and selectors could also be hesitant to make a call-on their opener mid-series.
Originally revealed as Australia v India second Test dwell: Follow the most recent news and updates from day two
Source: www.news.com.au
