Ashes fitness update: Warner back in the nets, Khawaja cleared of hamstring worries

A day after copping a nasty blow to his leg in the nets, David Warner has returned to training.

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Update: Test opener David Warner was back in the Edgbaston nets on Tuesday morning, dispelling any fears about his Ashes return after a Monday injury scare.

Warner was forced out of training after taking a blow to his leg while facing Aussie seamer Michael Neser. He needed treatment from the team physio David Beakley and did not return.

But the 74-Test veteran was first man in to the nets, along with Steve Smith, two days out from the first Test in Birmingham, as both men ready themselves for what’s likely to be a vocal home crowd.

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David Warner at Australia’s net session at Edgbaston on Tuesday. Picture: AP

Warner, Smith, and possibly Cameron Bancroft, are returning to Test cricket for the first time since being banned for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal.

“Davey’s fine, Davey had one on the inside of the leg. He’ll be fine,” Australian coach Justin Langer said.

Warner has never made an Ashes hundred in England and revealed last week that getting to three figures this series would take the sort of patience, and ability to scrap for runs, which he has incorporated in to his batting.

“I haven’t got a hundred. They’re always in the back of your mind, but now it’s just being a bit hungrier and determined to play that longer innings,” he said in Southampton.

David Warner of Australia is assessed by Australian Team Physiotherapist David Beakley after being struck on the leg. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I think you saw that during the white ball that I hung in there a lot, the old me probably would have thrown the bat at it quite often and today that was all I was focusing on, making sure my feet and my decision making was on point.

“I was happy with that but I’ve got to try to get those three figures.”

David Warner leaves the nets for treatment after being struck on the leg during the Australia Nets Session. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Usman Khawaja testing out his hammy at Edgbaston #Ashes pic.twitter.com/x2N9RGq5ey

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 29, 2019

Usman Khawaja has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring strain during Australia’s World Cup loss to South Africa earlier this month and missed last week’s intra-squad match in Southampton, but looms as a crucial figure in Australia’s batting line-up in a series expected to be dominated by the quicks.

He started his fitness test with sprints under the watchful eye of the coaching staff, before facing Australia’s frontline bowlers in the nets and later finishing off with a fielding drill, which was seemingly enough to satisfy the Australian camp that he’ll be ready to take on England.

Originally published as Ashes fitness update: Warner back in the nets, Khawaja cleared of hamstring worries