Ashes 2017/18: Australia Call Glenn Maxwell As Cover For David Warner
Nov 22, 2017 at 12:05 PM
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been called in as a cover for David Warner on the eve of the first Ashes Test to be played in Brisbane.
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Warner suffered an injury to in his neck a couple of days ahead of the first Test during a fielding session. As of now, he is confident of being fit for the opening game, but with Maxwell coming in, surely the Australian backroom staff is not yet fully confident of his availability for the first game, the reason why they have called in the dropped player to the team.
Meanwhile, Warner showed discomfort during the half-hour practice session on the eve of the game, as per a report in Cricket.com.au.
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The selection of Maxwell might not fulfil the purpose as if ruled out, Australia will be left with no option to replace Warner at the top. Neither of Usman Khawaja or Steven Smith would be ready to open the innings. The responsibility would fall on either of Peter Handscomb or Shaun Marsh.
Australia already have an inexperienced opener at the top in the form of debutant Cameron Bancroft and Marsh, the experienced one, might be the only one who would be asked to open and assist the young man.
Warner’s exclusion would also mean that Glenn Maxwell might come in at number 6, the place which he lost to Marsh when the squad was announced last week.
Steven Smith has already confirmed his playing XI ahead of the game. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are the three pacers in the playing XI, which means that Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird will warm the bench for the first game.
Rest of the members are an automatic selection in the side but an injury scare to the vice-captain has left Australia in all sorts of issues, and the team will be sweating on the fitness of Warner for the opening game.
Australia’s playing XI – Steve Smith (C), David Warner (Vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (Wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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