Warner hopeful of making a return in Boxing Day Test

Australia are without opener David Warner in the ongoing Test in Adelaide. The left-hander, who injured his groin in the second ODI, is still recuperating from the injury forcing him to sit out from the opener. He is now eager to return for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Speaking Australia’s sports radio network SEN, Warner said that he is eyeing to make the comeback from the second Test.

stated that he is aiming his comeback against India in Melbourne.

“I am (hopeful). That’s one that I never want to miss out on. Adelaide is my first missed Test through injury so, I’m obviously very disappointed with that. With the big series that it is, it’s devastating to miss a Test, but I know that the guys who are walking out there are going to put their best foot forward,” Warner told radio network SEN.

With just five days’ gap between the first and second Test, Warner said that he has intensified the rehabilitation process to ensure a strong return.

“Hopefully, I can get up and about and start running at a higher tempo. I managed to get up to 14 kilometers an hour (8.7mph) so, I’ve got to work towards a max of 26 to 30 kilometers an hour by next week. If I can run between wickets and move laterally, and do some ground fielding by the end of next week, I should be ready to go. Fingers crossed,” Warner concluded.

The last time India won the Test series in Australia, Warner and Smith were not part of the Australian team. Experts had been suggesting that with both returning to the Aussie fold, it’s going to be a tough task for India to replicate the performance.