Australia v India 3rd Test: David Warner concedes he is no guarantee of playing remaining matches of series

David Warner received a revolutionary treatment hours after injuring his groin in the one-day series against India which has kept his Test hopes alive.

David Warner is racing to be fit for the third Test. Picture: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images

Blood injections helped stimulate David Warner’s recovery from a torn groin, but the short turnaround between the third and fourth Tests has cast fresh doubt over whether Australia’s brutal opener can play out the series.

Warner said his expected return at the SCG on Thursday hinged on his agility in the field – and not at the crease – with Australia still seething at dropping eight catches in the Boxing Day Test loss to India.

If Warner can be trusted to gobble catches in the slips diving to his left and right then he will play in Sydney – 39 days after ripping his groin at the same ground.

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Australia may only Warner available for one of the remaining two Tests.

The 34-year-old faced an hour of throwdowns in the MCG nets on Saturday.

Warner struck the ball sweetly although at times he grimaced before hobbling out at 3pm.

“He’s back!,” assistant coach Andrew McDonald exclaimed after delivering his first throwdown to Warner, only to draw an edge on the next one.

“I’ve got to get you out now because in a couple of days you’ll be all over me.”

The four-day gap between the final two matches means a blazing knock at the SCG could jeapordise Warner’s fitness for the Gabba Test.

“It would probably be quite difficult, especially if I spend time out in the middle, to back up,” Warner said before training on Saturday.

“I might have to try and do some rehab in between (Test) to keep strengthening it up.”

Warner hasn’t played since tearing his groin early in December.

The SCG runs from January 7-11 before players fly to Brisbane on January 12, where they will be locked in hotel quarantine outside of training and playing the January 15-19 Test at the Gabba.

“If I don’t score any runs (at the SCG) I’ll be doing everything I can to keep working on that rehab,” Warner said.

“It’s going to be a task, but I’m up for that. I know I’ve got a couple of weeks off after that before that next series.”

News Corp understands Warner was administered two injections filled with his own blood shortly after ripping his groin on November 29.

The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) jabs go straight into the tendon to help accelerate recovery and Warner also visited a holistic health clinic in Darlinghurst daily.

Warner and Sean Abbott couldn’t mix with the Aussies during the MCG Test.

Warner struggled to move around in bed and climb in and out of a car for the first two weeks of December, and conceded he wouldn’t be 100 per cent when the third Test starts on Thursday.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to play,” he said.

“Even if that means I’m not 100 per cent, I’ll be doing everything I can to let the selectors give me that green light.

“I jumped in the hyperbaric chamber to get some oxygen into the blood to try and heal.

“Some penguin cryotherapy, which is basically ice put on the tendon area to fast-track that as well.

“When it comes to these tendon issues they hang around for quite a while and it’s quite hard to get through that pain threshold.”

Will Pucovski still has to get ticked off mentally and physically to play.

Warner said his limited mobility had forced him to bat “nice and tight” in the MCG nets.

“It actually helped me, because I had to wait for the ball to be in my actual area – I didn’t have to throw my hands at it,” he said.

“You’re going to have some restrictions here and there, but when you get in the game adrenaline takes over as well.

“You don’t cast any doubt over the fact you can’t play those shots.

“It’s about my speed between wickets – that’s all that matters.

“It doesn’t matter what shots I can and can’t play, it’s about the drop and run and helping the guy at the other end get off strike.”

WARNER: AUSSIES MUST GET VOCAL WITH INDIANS

Australia’s top six should open their mouths and throw back their shoulders – not swing their bats – to break India’s stranglehold, according to David Warner, who warned the runs would flow if he and Matthew Wade found their groove together.

Australia has failed to post more than 200 runs in an innings this series, with batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Wade admitting India’s leg-side fields and shrewd bowling plans had dried up their juicy scoring zones.

But Warner said applying pressure between deliveries would help draw loose balls for the Aussies to pounce on.

“There’s probably been that lack of urgency at the top,” Warner said after watching the first two Tests on TV.

“You don’t need that (intent) just with scoring runs. It’s the loud calling, it’s the way your shoulders are back and you’re in the bowler’s face.

“You’re trying to unsettle their line and length. I’d rather go down swinging than sitting there on the crease.”

David Warner says he and Matthew Wade could make for a dynamic opening batting pair in the Third Test against India. Picture: Josie Hayden

Warner repeatedly yelled “No run!” after blocking balls in the nets on Saturday, putting into action what he preached.

Opener Will Pucovski fielded for 90 minutes at the MCG before facing up for an hour in the nets as he returns from concussion.

Adam Gilchrist said Pucovski would have to be “thoroughly tested” against short balls in the nets to determine whether he could be considered for a Test debut at the SCG on Thursday.

But Pucovski was spared chin music on Saturday as the return to play protocols stipulate that he must gradually build up to facing the quicks.

Pucovski, 22, mainly negotiated spin bowling in the nets but did end his session under the close eye of coach Justin Langer, who put some heat on a few throw downs.

Pucovski was expected to front the media on Sunday but instead it will be Wade answering questions, allowing the young Victorian to keep his focus on the mental and physical recovery from his ninth blow to the head.

Will Pucovski has a net session under the watchful eye of Justin Langer. Picture: Josie Hayden

Fellow opener Marcus Harris also batted in the MCG nets, although it was Wade who Warner lauded as “brave” for opening the batting against India despite having no first-class or Test experience batting at the top.

Australia’s run-rate sunk to just 1.94 in the second innings at the MCG and with Warner injured the fear factor faded.

“I know if you had me and Wadey out there and we get a little bit of a sniff the run-rate could be quite high,” Warner said.

“I live by the sword and die by the sword when I’m out there with the bat.

“My 84 Test matches have been premeditated about going after the attack.

“I talk about body language. It’s not about taking to them with the willow, it’s about intent and building pressure.

“It’s not going out there and just swinging the bat – there’s other ways of showing intent.

“Putting pressure on them with that can lead to the odd full-pitched ball or the odd short-pitched length where you can pull or cut.”

Originally published as Australia v India 3rd Test: David Warner concedes he is no guarantee of playing remaining matches of series