Ashes 2021-22: Mike Hussey raises concern over David Warner after rib blow

David Warner has been hit where every sportsman feels an injury, and a Test great, speaking from personal experience, is concerned for the dogged opener.

David Warner may have a street dog mentality but there’s one place where every sportsman feels an injury … the ribs.

Test great Mike Hussey has concerns over Warner’s ability to play at his best with severely bruised ribs, but Australia has been boosted by scan results clearing the bulldozing opener of any fracture.

Speaking from personal experience, Hussey says even when there is no fracture, bruised ribs is just about the most painful injury for any sportsperson and it’s understood Warner is in significant discomfort.

The second Test doesn’t start until next Thursday but Hussey said there would have to be concerns over Warner’s ability to operate at a full range of movement if called upon for a second innings at the Gabba.

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Mike Hussey has concerns over David Warner with his rib blow. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“It is very painful and it hurts to cough, sneeze, laugh. It can take a long time to heal as well,” said Hussey on Fox Cricket.

“I think mine was only minor bruising really and I was still feeling pain six weeks later.

“If it gets you in the wrong spot it can be quite debilitating.

“It will be interesting to see how David Warner pulls up from a blow in the ribs.”

Warner was struck flush on the chest by a Ben Stokes delivery on day two and was in such pain he called for a chest guard – equipment he normally never wears.

The tough-as-nails opener powered on but was too sore to take the field on day three, as Jhye Richardson fielded in his place.

Warner was being monitored by Cricket Australia medical staff and it was still hoped he would be able to take his place at the crease in this match if needed.

Australia has time on their side to get Warner right for Adelaide but he may still be ginger.

Worst opener ever? Why Harris will get another chance

— Emma Greenwood

Australia’s likely success at the Gabba and backing from selectors will hand Marcus Harris at least one more match to locked down his role despite a damning statistic that ranks him as one of the worst openers in Test history.

When the 233 players that have opened at least 20 times in Test matches are ordered by average, Harris comes in at 233rd place.

Cricket statistician Ric Finlay shared the information on social media, with Harris’s contribution of just three in the first innings in Brisbane leaving him with an average of 21.5.

Australia will not change a winning side, while national selection boss George Bailey said ahead of the Ashes Harris would be given a decent chance to cement his position at the top of the order.

233 players have now opened at least 20 times in Test matches. When ordered by average, MHarris comes in 223rd.

— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 9, 2021

But another failure in the second Test in Adelaide would put him under enormous pressure.

Harris never looked comfortable against England’s new ball pairing on Thursday morning, with Ollie Robinson toying with the left hander before drawing a shot that had him caught in the slips in just the sixth over.

Marcus Harris is set to be given another chance at the top of the order. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Harris played and missed three times as Robinson sent down 150km/h thunderbolts with the new ball before he drew the West Australian forward with a ball angling across his body, drawing an edge that flew low to Dawid Malan at third slip.

Harris won the opening spot over Usman Khawaja, who was also overlooked at no.5 for Travis Head.

Head repaid the faith with a swashbuckling effort that could cement his place in the team for the Ashes series.

But with Khawaja in form and waiting in the wings, Harris is under pressure to score in the second innings at the Gabba and in Adelaide, where frustrated swing kings Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will be lying in wait with the pink ball.

Speaking on Channel 7, former Test captain Ricky Ponting - an unabashed Khawaja fan who admitted he would have picked him in his Gabba Test team somewhere - said Harris probably had two games to cement his spot.

Kerry O'Keeffe calls it and Marcus Harris is on his way back to the sheds. #Ashespic.twitter.com/hRda2xMJm3

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2021

“He probably has four innings to get one significant score or they will look to make a change,” Ponting said.

Khawaja, who has an overall Test average of 40.6, including eight centuries, has opened on seven occasions for an average of 96.8.

Harris’s failure was amplified as David Warner (94), riding his luck, and Marnus Labuschagne (74) seemed set to score centuries before a mini-collapse brought England back into the match.

Sailing at 1/166, Australia lost 5/70 before Head steadied the ship, first with wicketkeeper Alex Carey and then with his captain Pat Cummins (12), who fell to opposing captain Joe Root.

Carey scored 12 on debut, sharing a 41-run partnership with Head before playing a rash shot to Chris Woakes, swatting a short ball to midwicket.

Originally published as Ashes 2021-22: Mike Hussey raises concern over David Warner after rib blow