Tim Paine, Australian skipper hinted that opener David Warner could be a certainty to open in the third Test against India starting 7th January 2021 while Tim Paine added another opener Will Pucovski is also not far from returning to competitive cricket after suffering a concussion in the warm-up game.
Tim Paine said David Warner’s recovery is back on track following his injury in 2nd ODI and there is a strong possibility of him featuring in the third Test, starting on January 7 in Sydney.
Tim Paine. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Tim Paine: David Warner Looks Good To Play 3rd Test While Will Pucovski Is Not Far Away To Return
David Warner suffered a groin injury and strained adductor muscle missing 3rd and last ODI, subsequent 3 T2oIs and 2 Tests failing to recover in time. He had suffered an injury while trying to save a shot in 2nd ODI and limped off-field.
“David looks very good. He has started running between the wickets, so early signs with him very good for the third Test, which is awesome for us,” Paine said at the post-match press conference after Australia lost the second Test by eight wickets.
“Pucovski is not far away to return to play. He is pretty close to return,” he added.
David Warner (Image Credit: Twitter)
His return would lend balance and solidity to the Australian top-order as Joe Burns has not been consistent enough though he scored an unbeaten half-century in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. But apart from that, he has scored single-digit scores in the other three innings of the two Tests and two warm-up games.
Will Pucovski Recovering From Concussion During Warm-Up Game And May Debut Alongside David Warner
It will be interesting to see whether Will Pucovski, if he is cleared to play as indicated by Tim Paine, will be asked to open alongside David Warner or whether Australia persist with incumbent opener Joe Burns.
The 22-year-old Will Pucovski was tipped by experts to make his Test debut in the first day/night Test match in Adelaide but it was inevitably delayed after he was hit on his helmet during a warm-up game and was concussed. Will Pucovski had scored unbeaten 255 against South Australia and 202 against West Australia in Sheffield Shield for which he was drafted into Test squad.
Will Pucovski. Image Credit: Getty Images.
India thus had avenged their 1st Test defeat by winning the 2nd Test by the same margin. However there are concerns like Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara’s form, Umesh Yadav’s injury and unable to take wickets in the fag end of Australian innings as three times in four innings, Australian tail-enders had added vital runs.
Mayank Agarwal may make way for KL Rahul or Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari’s place is also in doubt whereas T Natarajan or Navdeep Saini may debut considering Umesh Yadav not fit to play 3rd Test.
Meanwhile, India’s positives were Mohammed Siraj picking 5 wickets in debut Test, Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round show, Shubman Gill’s debut form showing positive intent, Ajinkya Rahane’s return to form and Ravichandran Ashwin becoming leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets.
