2019 Cricket World Cup: David Warner injury throws Aussie plans into confusion for Afghanistan clash

David Warner’s injury looks far worse than first thought but the potential loss of the star opener for the World Cup opener could be offset by the form of Steve Smith.

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An injury to David Warner is causing the batsman, coaches and selectors a major pain in the behind as Australia prepares for its opening match in the World Cup against Afghanistan on Saturday.

The opener pulled out of the side’s first training session in Bristol on Wednesday after a brief stint in the nets. Warner pointed toward his glute muscle, indicating it was causing him issues as he played the pull shot and then left the field.

While the other batsmen completed their preparation he sought treatment indoors.

The Aussies trained again on Thursday morning (EST) and will have a light workout on Friday before Saturday’s game.

There must be a temptation to rest Warner from the match against one of the weaker sides in the tournament, but Warner has not played an ODI since before his ban in March last year.

Michael Clarke missed the opening match of the 2015 World Cup, but circumstances were markedly different. The then captain had only missed a few months of international cricket, not an entire year.

While Warner was the highest run scorer in the IPL he has appeared to struggle with the transition to one day cricket during the warm up matches in Brisbane and on arrival in the UK.

The 32-year-old had just started to find his rhythm, scoring a 43 in the side’s win against England last week, but missed the next match because of what was reported as “tightness” in the upper leg.

David Warner will want to play the early World Cup game sin order to find his best form for later in the tournament. Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant

The injury looks more serious than first thought, but the batsman will want to play and the team will want him to get further exposure before facing some of the better teams later in the tournament. If he doesn’t Usman Khawaja will open and Shaun Marsh will bat at No 3.

There has been speculation that all-rounder Marcus Stoinis could be left out to let both Marsh and Khawaja play, but it would be an enormous gamble to get the extra 10 overs out of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch.

Smith, who is also set to play his first official match for Australia since the South African ban, looks in forbidding form and has been relentless in practice.

The former skipper is averaging 131 in the warm up games and had really hit his stride with a century against England in Southampton.

Smith has always had an insatiable appetite for net sessions and his hunger seems to have increased on return. Slipped down the order so others could have a hit in the final practice match against Sri Lanka, the batsman spent most of the afternoon facing throwdowns from coaching staff at the back of the Ageas Bowl and was it again on Thursday morning (EST) in Bristol.

When showers washed out the net session Smith continued indoors, Justin Langer flinging balls at him from behind a protective net while Brad Haddin, possibly still sore from doing the same for hours two days earlier, watched on.

Despite being one of the best batsmen of his era, Smith has been known to ‘forget’ how to grip the bat and finds that the only way to get comfortable again is to spend hours hitting balls. To the naked eye he appears to be on the verge of something special.

Shane Warne said that his 12 month drug ban was beneficial for his cricket and as hard as it is to believe that Smith could improve on his Test form before the enforced break, he confessed last week that he was unhappy with his ODI batting before it.

Smith said after the century in Southampton that he was not reading too much into his performances in the lead up to the World Cup.

“They’re just practice games,” he said.

“Hopefully I can keep this form for the real stuff and we’ll make a judgment then. I am feeling good, I’m feeling calm at the crease and hitting the right balls I want to the boundary. Hopefully I can keep it up.”

Smith has worked hard on his fitness in the break.

“I had a bit of time on my hands to do some fitness and do the right thing,” he said.

“I said at the start of the 12 months that I wanted to come back in best shape that I’ve been in and I was able to do that.”