‘Audible pain’: Aussies gamble on David Warner for day-night Test despite bruised ribs

David Warner will play in the day-night Adelaide Test despite damning footage of the Australian opener struggling in a net session.

“Am I going to be 100 per cent? Highly doubtful.”

David Warner didn’t beat around the bush when asked about his groin strain ahead of January’s New Year’s Test at the SCG.

After suffering the adductor injury during a one-day series in November 2020, Warner missed the opening two Tests of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, and five days out from the third Test in Sydney, the opener knew he wasn’t going to be fully fit in time for the third match.

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Queenslander Joe Burns had just been axed from the Test squad, while Matthew Wade was struggling to prove his worth as an opener – the Aussies were willing to prematurely reinstate Warner in the hope of restoring some balance to the side’s top-order.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to get on that park and play,” he told reporters at the time. “And even if that means I’m not at 100 per cent, I’ll be doing everything I can to let the selectors give me that green light.”

But the decision backfired – Warner’s pain was immediately evident after he scampered through for a quick single during the opening session of day one. He registered scores of 5 and 13 in the drawn Test.

David Warner will play at Adelaide Oval despite bruised ribs. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

Eleven months later, Warner will once again be required to nurse an injury while representing his country in the game’s longest format.

After copping a blow to ribs off Ben Stokes’ bowling last week, Warner didn’t bat or field in the second innings of the Gabba Test, casting doubt over whether the 35-year-old would be available for the day-night Adelaide Test.

The injury cloud darkened when footage emerged of Warner completing a fitness test in the Adelaide Oval nets on Tuesday afternoon. Less than 48 hours out from the first ball of the second Ashes Test, he was struggling to bat without the assistance of painkillers.

The bruised ribs were clearly causing him discomfort in the video, with the left-hander gingerly taking guard between throw-down deliveries from assistant coach Michael di Venuto. He even made audible cries of pain while playing a couple of cross-bat shots.

“He is a tough character,” former Australian paceman Lee told Fox Cricket. “He will probably get some injections or some pain killers just to get him through.

“But if he is restricted and he can’t play a certain shot, then maybe it is worth him not playing.”

Despite the bruising, Australian captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Warner would still play in the pink-ball Test.

“He’ll be alright,” Cummins told reporters at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday afternoon.

“He had a bat yesterday – batted with a bit of discomfort, but knowing Davey, he’s not going to miss this one. He’ll be fine once the adrenaline and everything kicks in.

“I don’t think he had any painkillers or anything yesterday. He’s played close to 90 Tests, I’m sure a lot of them have been played in discomfort or with things going into the game.

“He’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Here are the only two short balls David Warner faced tonight. Audible pain after both shots before requesting only full deliveries for the rest of his shortened net session.

Tough cookie, but a long way from fully fit ahead of Thursday’s Test…@10NewsFirstAdlpic.twitter.com/wvhZo3sKGU

— Max Burford (@mkfburford) December 14, 2021

Warner scored a career-defining triple-century in his most recent Test knock at Adelaide Oval – he averages 80.38 with the bat in the South Australian capital, cracking four centuries in eight Tests.

Only former Australian captain Michael Clarke has scored more run at Adelaide Oval at a better average than the New South Welshman.

On Wednesday, reporters asked veteran England seamer James Anderson whether he’d try and attack Warner’s ribs in an attempt to aggravate the injury.

“Maybe 15 years ago, when I had an extra yard of pace,” he responded.

“We know how good he is, we saw that in the first Test. It’s just a case of trying to get him out.”

Cummins waved off suggestions that England’s bowlers would bombard the opening batter with short-pitched bowling.

“It’s not like a broken bone or anything that’s going to get worse, it might just be a bit of discomfort,” he said.

“If Davey didn’t felt like he could be as good as he normally is, he wouldn’t be playing.

“He’s sore, I don’t think he’s going to bat any different to how he normally would.”

Meanwhile, Cummins confirmed that West Australian seamer Jhye Richardson would replace the injured Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s starting XI.

The second Test between Australia and England gets underway on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 3pm AEDT.