‘Not going great’: David Warner under injury cloud ahead of T20 World Cup

David Warner is under an injury cloud ahead of the T20 World Cup, with the Australian opener missing Friday’s T20 against England.

David Warner of Australia. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Australian opener David Warner is under an injury cloud after suffering from neck soreness following his concussion scare in the second T20 at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

In the 15th over of England’s innings on Wednesday, all-rounder Moeen Ali slapped a full delivery from Australian paceman Mitchell Starc towards Warner on the point boundary.

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But the 35-year-old misjudged the chance, taking a couple of steps forward before back-pedalling and volleying the ball over the rope for six.

However, a visibly dazed Warner didn’t return to his feet after landing heavily on the turf, leaving the field alongside a team medic.

He was replaced by substitute fielder Steve Smith for the rest of England’s innings.

Warner later passed his concussion test and opened the batting alongside captain Aaron Finch, but was dismissed by English seamer Reece Topley for 4 (11) in the fifth over.

Australia ultimately fell eight runs short in the run chase as England claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match bilateral series.

David Warner is off the ground and being checked out after landing heavily attempting this catch #AUSvENGpic.twitter.com/mDKDsJBhte

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 12, 2022

On Friday afternoon, cricket journalist Peter Lalor revealed that Warner was suffering from a “whiplash injury” following the head knock and would miss the third match against England, spoiling the left-hander’s T20 World Cup preparation.

“They would’ve hoped I felt to have their full team tonight,” Lalor told SEN 1170 Afternoons.

“My mail is he’s not going great.”

Australia is scheduled to play a warm-up match against India at the Gabba on Tuesday before its T20 World Cup campaign gets underway against New Zealand on Friday, October 22.

“I’m a bit stiff this morning,” Warner told Fox Cricket on Friday evening

“I obviously had a pretty heavy fall the other day. I’ve never had whiplash before.

“It’s pulled up real stiff.”

Warner was Australia’s top-scorer during the first T20 at Perth Stadium, smacking 73 (44) during the eight-run loss.

He was named player of the tournament at last year’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, scoring 289 runs at 48.16.

Smith replaced Warner in the starting XI for Friday evening’s series finale in Canberra, with Finch confirming at the toss that Glenn Maxwell would open the batting.

Australia won the toss and elected to field first at Manuka Oval.

David Warner of Australia. Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Earlier on Friday, the Cricket Australia Board discussed a possible amendment to the organisation’s Code of Conduct that would allow Warner to appeal his lifelong captaincy ban.

Warner has been banned from any leadership position in Australian cricket since the infamous ball-tampering saga in 2018, but there are growing calls for it to be overturned.

The New South Welshman is a leading candidate to replace Finch as the national men’s ODI captain, along with Test skipper Pat Cummins.

“The amendment would allow a person to request a penalty that they had accepted be reviewed after an appropriate period of time,” CA said in a statement.

“Currently the code states that once a charge and penalty is accepted, there is no avenue for review.

“The onus would be on the applicant to prove they had undergone genuine reform relevant to the offence they were sanctioned for.

“Any review would not revisit the original sanction, other than suspension of a penalty in recognition of genuine reform.

“The Board has requested that the CA Head of Integrity propose an amendment to the code for consideration.

“It was agreed that should an amendment in respect to long-term sanctions be adopted, any review of a penalty would be heard by an independent Code of Conduct Commission.”