New Delhi: Australia's quest to work their way back into the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Test series against India has taken a turn, with news that experienced opener David Warner has been substituted out of the second Test in Delhi due to concussion.
Warner will sit out the remainder of the second Test, with fellow left-hander Matthew Renshaw earning a reprieve and named as his replacement.
A more patient Warner managed just 15 runs in the first innings of the Test on Friday, but the 36-year-old took a couple of knocks to his body and helmet in the process during his 44-ball stay at the crease.
Further tests on Saturday showed Warner had not made a full recovery, with Renshaw substituted in as his replacement for the rest of this Test after he was dropped for Travis Head prior to the match commencing.
Whether Warner recovers in time to feature in the third Test of the series in Indore from March 1 remains to be seen and Australia will miss his experience on the field while he remains sidelined.
The current run of form of Warner is also a worry for Australia, with the usually dynamic left-hander having failed in all three hits this tour against India and with just one century to his name since the start of 2020.Teammate and fellow opener Usman Khawaja feels Warner will bounce back to form, should he return to fitness in time this series.
"Three innings is not enough for me - I think there's still a long way to go in this Test series," Khawaja said after play on Friday."Dave has been such a terrific player for such a long time."Every time his back is against the wall he produces something so we'll see."(UNI)