India vs Australia: David Warner very likely to play Sydney Test, says coach Justin Langer

Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday said that star opener David Warner is “very, very, very likely” to feature in the Sydney Test against India. Warner, who missed the first 2 Tests, has been out of action since last year’s 2nd ODI against India in which he limped off the field with a groin injury.

“Very hopeful that David will be ready for the third Test, he is a bit of a warrior, isn’t he? I have said this since day one that he is doing everything possible to be ready for the third Test, he looks like he is moving very well, he is very determined to play, he loves the competition and he loves playing Test cricket, we will get some final eyes on him this afternoon during training and we will make a discussion on that. He is looking very likely to play the Test match,” Justin Langer said during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

“David has played a lot of white-ball cricket recently, a bit like Steve Smith, David probably has not played any four-day cricket for probably 12 months now. He is a master of the game and his experience will help him through that,” he added.

David Warner has been greatly missed with Australia’s makeshift opening partnership coming up short to the extent that his former partner Joe Burns has been dropped for the third Test.

“I think David Warner’s batting will be fine, there might be some different movements he might need to make in the field, so we might him get into the slips, I still remember some brilliant catches he took in Leeds in 2019 Ashes, he is a such a natural talent, he is going to be playing with some pain and like a lot of cricketers, you play through some levels of pain, he is willing to take that on and hopefully, it won’t hamper too much,” Langer further said.

“If we thought if are taking a big risk of injuring Warner again, we would not be taking the risk. He has had a good rehab, he might be a little restricted in the field, that area might get a little bit fatigued as he has not played Test cricket for a while but we will not risk if we thought he is going to re-injure himself back again,” added Langer.

The four-match series currently stands level at 1-1 after India’s stunning comeback in the Boxing Day Test which they won by 8 wickets after losing the series-opening Pink-ball Test in Adelaide by the same margin last month.