The difference in fortunes of Australia’s veteran openers was stark. And a 300-Test star says David Warner is going to be targeted.
David Warner was unable to return to the field last night after taking blows to his head and body, as Usman Khawaja secured his passage to England as well as a new million dollar deal.
It was unclear whether Warner’s issues are concussion related or whether there is a different injury concern after he copped brutal deliveries to both his helmet and elbow on day one.
Warner made only 15, but the fitness concerns put into context the toughness he showed to soldier on after the ruthless assault from Indian seamer Mohammed Shami.
It came as Warner was warned he will be a marked man in the Ashes and be met with similar body line tactics in England, should he make it that far.
Australia’s 36-year-old, left-handed openers experienced varying fortunes on day one of the second Test, with Khawaja’s heavy-duty 81 significant in the context of not only this Test but his future beyond India.
After making 195 not out in the Sydney Test, and more than 1000 runs in 2022, the dominant innings in Delhi will surely be enough to lock Khawaja in for the Ashes in a couple of months’ time.
There was a perky fluency about the way Khawaja batted in difficult conditions, and his knock off 125 balls stood out as the innings of the day.
Warner battled hard for his 15 off 44 balls on day one of the second Test, but after some brave batting ultimately fell victim to superb, targeted bowling from Indian master, Mohammad Shami.
Test Godfather Allan Border admits selectors will have to discuss Warner’s future at the top of the order should he fail in the second innings and Australia lose the Test – but emphasised that the 36-year-old deserved a chance to “go out on his own terms.”
Former 310-wicket Test quick Lee said if Warner chooses to go on to the Ashes later this year, he can expect Ben Stokes’ arsenal of quicks to follow the Shami blueprint of relentless around-the-wicket bowling which reminded him of one of England’s Ashes greats.
“He does need runs definitely. One and 10 in the first Test. Fifteen in this Test. He definitely needs a bucket of runs, but I just think it’s been really, really well constructed fast bowling to David Warner, coming around the wicket,” Lee said on Fox Cricket.
“That dismissal from Shami was a bit like Andrew Flintoff the way he bowled over in England.
“That’s the way they’ll be bowling in England if he goes that far and chooses to go to England.
“But let’s worry about India. He has to get through this Test first and then a couple more on the back of that.
“Warner is due and he’s a quality player and I really hope for him and for Australia he can dominate.”
Border said Warner’s career was hanging in the balance, but warned there was still a lot of water to go under the bridge in this second Test match.
“If you walk out there in the second innings and you get rock and rolled and we lose the Test match then all of a sudden the selectors start thinking, ‘we might have to start planning for the future a bit more,’” Border said on Fox.
“And given his last tour of England was a horror, they might be thinking, ‘this is the time.’
“I don’t like talking about quality players and leaving them out willy-nilly. Give him a chance to go out on his own terms. We’ll wait and see how that all develops.”
Not that Khawaja was necessarily under immediate pressure, but his Delhi dominance is well-timed with Cricket Australia to select its contract rankings list in April and the Queenslander now well and truly deserving of a top-10 deal.
The last thing Australia needs is for Khawaja and Warner to be exiting the team at the same time.
Warner did score a double hundred only three Test matches ago and selectors have already stated that they see his experience as vital in their Test match journey this year, which is likely to include a Test Championship Final before the Ashes.
If Australia loses the second Test and Warner misses out in the second innings, this series will be gone anyway and any decision about his future needs to be based on the Ashes and not India.
The lingering question remains, who is actually poised to take over from Warner?
Matthew Renshaw was axed for the second Test himself to accommodate the return of Travis Head and was unconvincing in the first Test against spin.
Warner is a 100-Test great and one of the world’s finest ever opening batsmen, and selectors may be hesitant to make a call-on their opener mid-series.
Originally published as Australia v India second Test live: Follow the latest news and updates from day two