Big-hitting Warner primed for return
DAVID Warner started training with a sore bottom and then transferred that pain to the bowlers with a lethal batting display that has him primed to make his return to international cricket tonight.
Warner appeared to ace his fitness test as he completed fielding drills and then batted for 90 minutes in the Bristol County Ground nets – where he rained sixes into the stands – after scans showed a “minor strain” in his right glute.
Unless Warner wakes up sore he is certain to open the batting with captain Aaron Finch against Afghanistan, breaking up the FinchUsman Khawaja partnership that averaged 91.8 runs in Australia’s past eight ODIs.
Warner’s return to the top after a 12-month suspension will force one of Khawaja or Shaun Marsh to No.3 and the other out of the team.
Khawaja is tipped to receive first crack, given he is the world’s leading run-scorer in 2019 (averaging 59.2) and warmed up with 89 in Southampton on Monday, albeit against a weak Sri Lanka.
Khawaja made that 89 opening in Warner’s absence, due to his injury.
But Marsh would still be an unlucky omission given he smacked two centuries in England last year and is averaging 55.1 from his past 17 ODIs.
“I assume that (Warner) will be fit,” Finch said. “He batted for 90 minutes today, but we’ll wait and see tonight once he speaks to the physio.”
Langer said Warner was fine when batting and running between the wickets, but felt pain when running “side to side” in the field.
Langer confirmed Warner would replace Khawaja as Finch’s opening partner.
If Warner wakes up sore and is ruled out, then Khawaja will open with Finch and Marsh will bat at No.3.
Either way, Marcus Stoinis is safe after selectors briefly discussed leaving him out and going with Glenn Maxwell as the only all-rounder.
With a loaded batting lineup, Australia’s record ODI score of 4-434 could be in trouble if it bats first at the tiny venue.
The straight boundary at Bristol is 47m and batsmen targeted it repeatedly during centre-wicket practice. Finch struck a six so hard it crashed through the sight screen.
Australia’s second-biggest score of 6-417 was belted the last time it played Afghanistan, at the 2015 World Cup, when Warner creamed 178 (133).
“Obviously Afghanistan has a big spin focus,” Finch said. “They’ve got world-class spinners – Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeb. They’re probably three of the most well-known spinners around the world over the last couple of years in the shorter formats.”