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SPORTS MARCH 03, 2023 | The Indian Eye 41

The all-rounder was very close
to playing the second Test in Delhi
but eventually decided against it. “I
was so, so close last game, but I think
probably having an extra week has
helped a lot, I am 100% ready to go,”
cricket.com.au quoted Green as say-
ing.
“It’s just a few instances in the
nets where I’d go for a sweep and
it just jarred the end of my bat. We
probably just thought that we’d sac-
rifice a game and with obviously the
year ahead that we’ve got, it’s proba-
bly the right call,” he added.
Australia will welcome the ad-
dition of a fast-bowling option in
Green. The all-rounder has 806 Test
runs at 35.04 average and six half-cen-
turies to his credit. He has also taken
23 wickets at a 29.78 average, with
one five-for.
Green’s return to the line-up is a
huge relief for Australia, who are al-
ready dealing with injuries and depar-
tures. David Warner, Ashton Agar,
and Josh Hazelwood have already
left, and skipper Pat Cummins is in
Australia for a family issue. Pat Cummins is out of action after the second Test match at Delhi

DAVID WARNER ON HIS TEST
CAREER FUTURE seen it before with the ex-players as India will play Australia in In- match started. Images of “selective
well. So, for me if I’m taking pressure dore for the third Test that starts on watering” also emerged online, which
ustralia batter David Warner off the rest of the other guys, and no March 1 while the fourth Test will be was done to ensure the areas outside
has embraced the idea of his one’s worrying about the rest of the played in Ahmedabad from March 9. off stump of left-handers were left
ATest career being ended be- team, I’m happy to do that,” Warner dry for spinners.
fore the Ashes, deciding to continue told reporters at Sydney Airport as NAGPUR AND DELHI PITCHES Warner’s concerns about the
purely as a white ball player if he re- quoted by Sydney Morning Herald. RECEIVE “AVERAGE” RATING surface were very evident the way he
ceives the call to be informed of his When asked if Warner was still practised. He batted right-handed
long-form time is done. in Australia’s plans for the five-Test ndia’s pitches in Nagpur and Del- during the nets session and even con-
The experienced opener re- series against England in June, selec- hi for the first two Tests of the sidered doing so during the match.
turned to Sydney on Thursday after tor Tony Dodemaide was hesitant to IBorder-Gavaskar Trophy against Indian spinners were able to ex-
his tour of India was cut short due commit to the aggressive left-hander. Australia have received an average ploit the surface better, evident by the
to an elbow injury. After being hit “We’re worried about what we rating from the International Crick- fact that both matches ended in three
by Mohammed Siraj during the first can get out of these remaining two et Council (ICC), reported Sydney days with the spin duo of Ravichan-
innings of the second Test in Delhi, Tests (in India), obviously that’s a Morning Herald on Thursday. dran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja
Warner suffered a hairline fracture in clear focus for us at the moment. The playing surfaces were a dominating the Australian batters.
his left elbow. We’ll address the Ashes planning (at subject of huge discussion ahead of Jadeja and Axar Patel proved to
He was hit on the helmet two a later time), but we are committed the blockbuster series. The pitch at be difficult to dismiss for Australians
overs later, experiencing delayed con- to picking the best fit and available Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadi- as spin veteran Nathan Lyon, Todd
cussion symptoms, and was substitut- players for Test series, particularly um in Nagpur has received an “aver- Murphy, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland
ed out of the Test match. something as big as the Ashes. That’s age” rating from the governing body failed to dismiss them for low scores.
Despite scoring just one Test cen- not a question that we’ve addressed of the sport and its match referee, Jadeja and Patel have scored 254
tury in the previous three years, the so far. We are very keen, as everyone Zimbabwe’s Andy Pycroft. The strip runs combined in the series, which is
36-year-old feels he is the fine batter I’m sure at home would be, for us to for the second Test at the Arun Jait- more than 242 runs made by seven
to open the batting in this year’s Ash- get something out of this remaining ley Stadium in Delhi, where Australia left-handers playing in the Australian
es tour. series,” said the Australia batter. fought hard for two days before bun- team - Usman Khawaja, Travis Head,
“I’ve always said I’m playing to Warner, along with bowling all- dling out for 113 runs in the third, was Alex Carey, Warner, Matt Kuh-
2024; if the selectors feel that I’m not rounder Ashton Agar, has left the also an “average” rating by Pycroft. nemann, Matt Renshaw and Murphy.
worthy of my spot, then so be it, and troublesome trip, with Australia be- The surface was deemed to be fair if Australia’s high-performance
I can push on to the white-ball stuff. hind 0-2 and their chances of recov- not perfect. chief, Ben Oliver defended his side’s
I’ve got the next 12 months, a lot of ering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy The preparation of the Nagpur truncated preparation for Indian
crickets ahead for the team and if I already ended. Australia is already pitch was of heavy interest to the pitches, but his predecessor Pat How-
can keep scoring runs and putting my without the services of Josh Hazel- Australian side. Star batters David ard pointed out that a prolonged
best foot forward for the team and wood due to a persistent Achilles in- Warner and Steve Smith were seen period of preparations are needed.
I can help my spot, it’d be great for jury while Mitchell Starc is expected observing the surface closely and Back in 2017 during their last visit to
the team. It’s easy pickings (for crit- to play in Indore after having recov- pressing against the pitch to check its India, Australia had taken a 1-0 lead,
ics) when you’re 36 going on 37. I’ve ered from his finger injury. hardness at various points before the but lost the series by 2-1.

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