India, you’ve been warned: Davey’s back
Justin Langer has all but confirmed David Warner’s return as Australia mull whether to pick would-be debutant Will Pucovski for the third test against India starting in Sydney tomorrow.
Warner hasn’t played since suffering a groin injury during an ODI on November 29.
Langer says it looks ‘‘very, very likely’’ that the veteran opener will face India.
‘‘He’s moving pretty well. He’s very determined to play,’’ Australia’s coach said. ‘‘Then we’ve got some other decisions to make with our batting order.
The call to potentially promote Pucovski – who was unavailable for the first and second tests because of the latest in a series of concussions – at the expense of Travis Head is complicated by several factors.
‘‘Will saw an independent neurologist yesterday,’’ Langer said yesterday.
‘‘He’s seen a couple now. ‘‘All the concussion protocols have been passed. He’s been cleared and that would be very heartening for him, his family.
‘‘There’s no reason why Will can’t be selected now. It’s just working out the balance of our team, where we’re at in the series ... we weigh up whether this test match is right, or the next test match is right.’’
Warner will replace Joe Burns
in the XI that suffered a shock loss to India at the MCG, where the tourists levelled the four-test series at 1-1.
Earlier yesterday, Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley expressed confidence the series would not be derailed by any Indian misgivings over being confined to their hotel, declaring the the final two matches of the series ‘‘all systems go’’.
The Indian and Australian teams were transported from Sydney airport to their eastern suburbs hotel in four coaches and a mini-van on the penultimate journey of a Border-Gavaskar Trophy circuit that has resembled an obstacle course in the past week.
Hockley addressed suggestions that the Indians on the ground in Australia were balking at the tighter controls over the players’ movements for the tour’s final two stops in Sydney and Brisbane. He said he had not received the same message from those he had spoken to on the subcontinent.
‘‘We’ve had nothing formal from the [Board of Control for Cricket in India] to suggest anything other than they’re supportive,’’ Hockley said.