Australia to gamble on wounded Warner

David Warner’s injured ribs will be a target when he opens the batting for Australia in the Adelaide day-night Test

Opener David Warner discusses his rib injury with coach Justin Langer

England will have an added incentive to target David Warner in Adelaide, with the Australians deciding to gamble and play the wounded opener.

Warner has limited movement and is in considerable pain after being struck in the ribs by Ben Stokes in Brisbane. He scored 94 in that innings, but did not bat or field in the second half of the game and did not face any bowlers in the nets in the final session before Thursday’s second Test.

The opener struggled to play cross-bat shots to the few short balls aimed at him by batting coach Michael Di Venuto during his only training session. He is understood to be unable to throw the ball, which will limit him to slips fielding.

Exciting quick Jhye Richardson comes into the side as replacement for Josh Hazlewood. The bowler played two Tests against Sri Lanka in 2019 and was set to be a part of that year’s Ashes campaign, but dislocated his shoulder.

While he is recovered and bowling brilliantly in first-class cricket, a hesitant attempt to take a diving catch suggested he too is still, at least mentally, a little restricted in the field.

Pat Cummins, smiling just that little bit more after leading Australia to a convincing win in his first Test as captain, is confident Warner will be ready to.

“He’ll be fine once adrenaline and everything kicks in,” Cummins said on Wednesday. “It‘s one thing batting in the nets it’s a different thing when you walk out and have a packed crowd. I don’t think he even had any kind of painkillers or anything yesterday.

“He’s played close to 90 Tests, I’m sure a lot of them have been played with discomfort or things going into the game. He’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Cummins indicated he would probably take the new ball in place of Hazlewood, but talked up the inclusion of Richardson.

“Josh is one of the best in the world, he’s very hard to replace,” he said. “Jhye really is in that upper echelon, he’s been bowling fantastically, so I don’t think we’ll see too much change. Probably the biggest change is having someone like Cameron Green now to lean on as a fourth quick option. We’ll try and get him into the game a bit more.

“Nathan always finds a bit of spin here. We’re not short of options here at any time. Not sure how I’ll use them yet.”

Pace bowler Michael Neser, as expected, missed out on selection, which is another blow to the man who has been in the squad since 2019.

“We had two really good options, both have done really, really well at the start of the season,” Cummins said. “Nesser has been with us on a lot of tours previously and Jhye has been battling his way back since 2019, but if we go back to 2019 he played two really good Test matches, was on the verge of an Ashes series and a World Cup before he had his shoulder injury,

“He’s worked incredibly hard, had a great start to the year for WA in Shield cricket. We just think he’s firing and really excited to see him out there.”

Warner will expect to be confronted by his nemesis Stuart Broad and his veteran partner James Anderson in this match, but England have not confirmed their XI.

Australia have won all five day-night Tests played in Adelaide and all eight held in this country.

Anderson played his first Test in Adelaide in 2006-07 and is set to play his fifth at the venue should he be selected. He has 16 wickets at an average of 29.5 at the venue.

Day night Tests have brought cheer to many in the Australian side. Starc has 28 wickets at 17.6 and a best of 6-66 in a game against Pakistan. Nathan Lyon’s 19 wickets have cost him 25.8 runs. Cummins has only played three matches and has taken 13 wickets at an average of 21.8.

Warner’s 335 against Pakistan is his highest Test score, Marnus Labuschagne also has a century in day-nighters at Adelaide but it is one of the few Tests where Steve Smith has proved fallible. The No.4 has a highest score of 59 and an average of 31 from five matches at the venue.

Australia will have fond memories of bowling India out for 36 in the corresponding game last summer.

Cummins was moved to remark on the ambience of an Adelaide Test.

“It’s a real event, we absolutely love coming down here,” he said. “In terms of pure cricket venues, I think it is right up there in the world.

“It’s just about my favourite place to play in Australia. We’re always really welcome here at the stadium, the wicket is fantastic, it’s super consistent, there’s always a fair contest between bat and ball, the crowds turn out, it’s a sellout for the first few days.

“We have lots of family and friends who this is the one Test match of the year they come down to.”

The Adelaide wicket has baked in the hot sun during the lead-up to the Test, but has a good cover of dry grass that will provide grip for spin and seam, while the varying atmospheric conditions add to the complexities of conditions.

“It feels like you could set your clock to this wicket every year, it’s just exactly the same,” Cummins said. “Just really nice coverage of grass, pace, bounce, bit of spin. Just a really good cricket wicket. Hopefully similar to last year, I think it’s a wicket where if you bowl really well, you feel in the game, but if you’re just off your mark the batter can get away. You saw Davey Warner hit 300 here a couple of years ago. I keep saying I love the wicket.”