With the exception of Usman Khawaja (81) and Peter Handscomb (72 no), who helped Australia record a solid total against the hosts, several of the top order batsmen failed for the second straight Test, Warner (15 runs) was not alone in his struggles. Warner took hits to the skull and arms throughout the chaotic performance, and by the end of the day, he had been unable to play for Australia.
The experienced player was examined by the team’s medical personnel after getting hit in the elbow while on two and again while on six when Mohammed Siraj’s bouncer smacked into his helmet. When India batted for nine overs before the game ended, he failed to field.
After feeling a bit queasy following the impact to his helmet, Warner will undergo the appropriate concussion protocols. Matt Renshaw, who was benched after a dismal performance in the first Test, might take over as the opener if he is unable to clear the concussion checks before the start of day two on Saturday.
Warner struggled on the first day of the match, playing too cautiously after taking 22 balls to get off the mark, just like he did in his two defeats in Nagpur. Warner fought his way to 15, so it wasn’t all that shocking when he was the first wicket to go.
In addition to his underwhelming performance (he now has an average of 21.78 in India after scoring one and ten in the Border-Gavaskar series opener), paceman Mohammed Shami’s methodical removal of him raised questions. Warner’s vulnerability to speed around the wicket was exploited by the Indian fast, who drew an outside edge from the left-hander that was caught by wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.
Ex Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian said that the left arm opener’s position in the team will not be certain after his below standard performance in the test match.
“I think he’s in a little bit of trouble, David Warner. I know he missed out on the first Test match and he made that great 200 at the MCG. But I don’t know. I just think second innings, is he under a little bit of pressure here?” Julian said.
Border’s worries were shared by many in the cricket community, and many cited Warner’s troubling performance in England, particularly against Broad. The last time the Australians visited England for an Ashes series in 2019, the England fast dismissed the Australian opener in seven of his ten innings.
“If you walk out in the second innings and get rolled and lose the Test match, all of a sudden the selectors think, ‘We might have to start planning for the future a bit more. And given his last Tour of England was a horror, they might be thinking, This is the time”, Allan Border said.
Despite having a fantastic average when batting at home, Warner has had a lot of trouble playing abroad. The seasoned opener has a pitiful average of 26.04 from 25 England-based Test innings and has never amassed an Ashes century elsewhere.