David Warner has been ruled out of the remainder of the Delhi Test against India after failing a concussion test, replaced by Matthew Renshaw.
The Australian opener was struck on the helmet by Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj early on day one of the second Test, but continued batting. He was later dismissed by Mohammed Shami for 15, edging behind to wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.
Warner did not take the field when India’s innings got underway on Friday evening, with the 36-year-old feeling “a little bit weary” having copped several blows to the body during his innings.
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“He got a knock to the arm and then the head, I think the head made him a little bit weary at the moment and couldn’t come out to field,” Australian teammate Usman Khawaja said at stumps.
“The staff will have to figure out what happens from here.”
On Saturday morning, Cricket Australia confirmed Warner would take no further part in the Delhi Test, with Renshaw replacing him as a concussion substitute, a move that was approved by match referee Andy Pycroft.
“Warner was struck on the helmet by fast bowler Mohammed Siraj in the tenth over of play,” CA said in a statement.
“He subsequently demonstrated symptoms and failed a concussion test.
“Warner will now follow the graduated return to sport protocols ahead of the third Test in Indore in line with Cricket Australia guidelines.”
Later on Saturday, reports emerged that Warner had also suffered a hairline fracture in his elbow courtesy of a Siraj bouncer, putting the left-hander in serious doubt for the third Test in Indore, which gets underway on Wednesday, March 1.
Renshaw was dropped from the Test side after registering scores of 0 and 2 in the series opener in Nagpur, which India won by an innings and 132 runs.
The Queenslander, who featured in Australia’s 2017 Test tour of India in 2017, will presumably open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja in the second innings.
“It’s a good opportunity for Renshaw, just out of the blue,” Australian legend Allan Border said on Fox Cricket.
“It might be a bit like Marnus Labuschagne with (Steve) Smith in England – comes in and takes the chance. Hopefully that’s what happens.”
Meanwhile, speculation around Warner’s spot in the Test side has grown in volume after another failure with the bat — he has reached fifty just once in his 15 most recent Test knocks.
“He just doesn’t look himself at the moment, David Warner,” former Australian batter Michael Hussey said.
“He looked tentative … He’s just very late on that ball, not looking for the short ball at all.”
Border continued: “The footwork was stagnant, wasn’t it. Very un-Warner-like, to get into these sorts of positions at the crease.
“He really had his struggles.”
Australia fight back on Day 1 with India | 04:04
