David Warner likely to miss first practice match ahead of Sri Lanka Test series

David Warner is likely to miss the the team’s first practice match ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka which is scheduled to begin from July 26. Warner has not fully recovered from the finger injury which he sustained during the recently concluded tri-series in West Indies.

The left-hander was forced to return home midway through the tri-series. However, coach Darren Lehmann and Warner himself are confident that the will be fit to play the first test at Kandy.

“I’ve done it before,” Warner told reporters in Sydney on Friday, referring to going into a Test with no warm-up games. “I’ve picked up a bat and gone back out there and tried to play to the best of my abilities. Sometimes it comes off. You always want some time in the nets.

“For myself, I’ve said in the past, less is more. I prefer to go into a lot of the games fresh. I don’t usually hit a lot leading into any series or any game. I just like to go in there and bat for 20 minutes or so.”

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Warner hurt his left index finger while fielding during a match against South Africa at St Kitts. While Warner has hit the gym again, he had revealed during the tri-series about taking a moderated approach to training. He has also stayed away from alcohol for quite some time in order to become fitter.

“That’s just the way I play and so far it’s kept me in good stead in five or six years playing at this level. It’s always worked so there’s no point in changing. When you’re in some form, you’ve got to try and keep riding it because there’s a lot more lows than there are highs in this game.

“The biggest thing for myself is the fielding aspect. I field in the slips, so I’m going to have to try take a handful of catches there to make sure it’s nice and warm,” Warner said.

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Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann was equally confident that Warner would be ready to take his place alongside Joe Burns at the top of the order for the first Test. Shaun Marsh is the back-up batsman in Australia’s squad who would likely step in if Warner was ruled out.

“He will be fine,” Lehmann told the Age. “He probably won’t play the two-day game but should play the first-class game – the tour game before we play the first Test. Even if he didn’t, I am not too worried about that. He is one of these guys who picks up a bat quite quickly.

“He has had broken fingers and injuries before, and we have just plugged him back into Test cricket and he is fine. We would like him to play the tour game and, hopefully, medically he can, but if he can’t, I am not too stressed. As long as he is available for the first Test.”

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Lehmann is also returning from some time off, having stayed at home in Australia while Justin Langer stood in as head coach for the tour of the West Indies.

“I am really excited to get back in the hot seat, if you like,” Lehmann said. “Justin did a great job and obviously had a good result in the West Indies. I think he summed it up beautifully, the way we have a bit of improvement to do in that format of the game.”