David Warner officially ruled out of first Test against India

The news cricket fans didn’t want to hear has been officially announced, leaving Australian cricket in limbo ahead of the first Test.

David Warner will be out of action.

David Warner has been officially ruled out of the first Test against India with a groin injury.

Warner suffered the injury while fielding during the second one-day international against India in Sydney late last month and won’t recover in time to take his place in the starting XI for the Test series opener in Adelaide on December 17.

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Cricket Australia released a statement saying Warner was now hoping to be fit for the blockbuster Boxing Day clash.

“I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it’s best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue working on getting back to full fitness,” Warner said.

“The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my teammates that it is 100 per cent ready for Test match conditions.

“That includes running between the wickets and being agile in the field. Right now I feel I am short of being able to play at peak fitness and another 10 days will make a difference.”

Warner’s blow poses an awkward question for Australian selectors, who have some crucial decisions to make ahead of the day-night clash in Adelaide, including whether to blood 21-year-old all-rounder Cameron Green at No. 6.

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Before Warner went down diving to stop a ball in Sydney, there was speculation about whether he would open the batting with incumbent Joe Burns or young gun Will Pucovski.

Burns played the entire home summer in 2019/20 without setting the world alight, and has struggled massively in the Sheffield Shield, mustering just 57 runs from five innings.

He also flopped for Australia A against India A at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney this week, falling for four in the first innings and a duck in the second.

Pucovski, 22, firmed as a replacement for Burns after striking two double centuries in two Shield games this season, but his hopes were dealt a blow in the Australia A clash.

The right-hander was out for one in the first dig and was forced to retire hurt on 23 after being struck on the helmet in the second innings, causing him to suffer mild concussion symptoms.

It is Pucovski’s ninth concussion and there is now uncertainty over whether he’ll be fit to play in Adelaide.

The top order conundrum has opened the door for Marcus Harris to return for his third stint in the Test team, though he too failed to capitalise for Australia A, out for 35 in the first innings.

The left-hander has not worn the baggy green since replacing Cameron Bancroft midway through last year’s Ashes series.

Discarded Test star Usman Khawaja wasn’t selected for any Australia or Australia A squads this summer but looms as a dark horse to be parachuted back in if Pucovski isn’t fit or selectors lose faith in Burns.

Warner new it was bad news the moment he went down.

Originally published as David Warner officially ruled out of first Test against India