David Warner ruled out of first Border-Gavaskar Test

Australian opener David Warner will miss the first Test match against India which is scheduled to begin on the 17th of December. Warner suffered an adductor injury while fielding during the 2nd ODI against India, and has been out of action since. However, he is hopeful of making a comeback for the marquee Boxing Day Test match at the MCG.

"I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it's best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue working on getting back to full fitness," said Warner. 

"The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my team-mates that it is 100 percent ready for Test match conditions. That includes running between the wickets and being agile in the field. Right now I feel I am short of being able to play at peak fitness and another 10 days will make a difference,” Warner added.

Australian coach Justin Langer also echoed Warner’s sentiments and hoped to have a fully fit Warner for the Test match beginning on the 26th at Melbourne. "If there is one guy you know will go well above and beyond that's Dave," Langer said. "He has done an incredible job to get to where he is today and we hope to have a fully fit David Warner at his absolute best in Melbourne.”

Will Pucovski is in line to make his international debut for the Aussies in the absence of David Warner, given he can prove his fitness having been concussed by a Kartik Tyagi bouncer during the warm-up game between India and Australia A. The Border-Gavaskar series will begin at Adelaide, with India playing their first overseas Day/Night Test match.

[Cricbuzz inputs]