David Warner sent home as Aussie exodus continues amid Test disaster

The Australian Test team is sending another player home as the side’s injury crisis deepens ahead of the third Test in India.

David Warner will be sent home after he suffered a hairline fracture to his elbow from a Mohammad Siraj bouncer barrage.

Josh Hazlewood, who has been recovering from an Achilles injury, was sent home on Monday, while captain Pat Cummins returned home for a family emergency but will be expected to be back for the third Test starting March 1.

Mitchell Swepson also returned home for the birth of his first child but is expected to return to India.

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Injuries are starting to play their part as it emerged rookie spinner Todd Murphy is also nursing a side injury.

“(Murphy) had a slight niggle in the side,” McDonald said.

“It looks as though the time frame between now and the next Test should be enough to resolve that.

“So he’ll have not a test but he’ll have a good workout two days before … it looks good.”

If Murphy is unable to recover, it would bring Swepson back into the fold for his first Test since July 2022 in Sri Lanka.

But Warner, who suffered the injury in the second Test and was ruled out because of concussion, wasn’t originally on the list of players to return home, but Cricket Australia has decided to bring him home to rehabilitate in Australia.

“David Warner has been ruled out of the Qantas test tour of India and will return home,” CA said in a statement.

“Warner was struck on the elbow in the second Test in Delhi and sustained a hairline fracture.

“After further assessment, he will require a period of rehabilitation which will preclude any further involvement in the remainder of the Test series.

“It is currently anticipated that he will return to India for the three One-Day Internationals.”

Dave Warner is coming back home. Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images

Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green, who were both recovering from finger injuries sustained in Australia, will continue to remain with the side.

On Monday, coach Andrew McDonald said while Warner would return home, additions to the touring party had not yet been announced.

“We’re in no rush to make any decisions at this point in time around Davey,” McDonald said in Delhi yesterday.

“It will be basically how sore and how functional it is as to what decision we make with him and then the length of the injury.

“There’s some talk the length of injury could be anywhere between a week-plus, depending how that settles down.

“There’s a bit of unknown there, so I’ll leave that to the medical team and they’ll inform me once they know.”

While India have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the fourth consecutive series, the series is very much alive in many ways for the Australians.

In order to secure a place in the World Test Championship final in June, the Australians need to avoid being swept 4-0 in India.

If India do manage a whitewash at home, Australia will be barracking for the little brother over the Tasman, as a 2-0 home defeat for New Zealand against Sri Lanka would see the Sri Lankans qualify for the final, despite being ranked seventh in the format.