David Warner has been ruled out of the last two Tests of the Border Gavaskar Trophy due to an elbow fracture. He will go home to Sydney to recuperate but is expected to return to India for the three-match ODI series at the end of March.
Although his concussion symptoms have subsided, his elbow remains an issue. It was initially thought that the hairline fracture was too minor to play indoors.
As of Monday night, Warner was planning to stay in India to try to play the third Test. But after further testing about his pain and his range of motion, he was officially ruled out and will return home with his family.
Australia are unlikely to call on any batsman as cover. Travis Head is set to open the batting in Indore after filling in for Warner in the second innings in Delhi. Head scored a brilliant 43 in Delhi and had only opened twice before in first-class cricket in a county championship match for Worcestershire in 2018. All the conditions but that he was fit to bloom in the subcontinent.
Cameron Green will be fit to play indoors. In the net session against Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, he faced fast bowling in the nets for the first time during the second Test when he was very close to being selected for the second Test. Green is training on his own at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday to maintain his bowling load while the rest of the squad rest for a few days after Sunday’s spectacular collapse.
The Australian team has already banned Josh Hazlewood from the tour due to his misbehavior. Mitchell Starc is set to be fit to play in Indore. Also set to return to the squad is Mitchell Swepson, who was home for the birth of his first child.
Skipper Pat Cummins left for home immediately after the Delhi Test due to family reasons but is currently scheduled to return at the weekend and is expected to play in Indore, although his status remains unchanged.
Australia may release some squad members to play some domestic cricket to finalize any changes on Wednesday.
