Opening batter David Warner is rated only a 50-50 chance of taking the field for Australia in Friday night’s opening one-day international against India in Mumbai.
Warner has returned to India after missing the final two Test matches with a hairline fracture in his elbow.
But attempts to prove his fitness in the nets were derailed when he was struck on the thigh, forcing him to cut short the session.
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While that in itself won’t force him out of the match at Wankhede Stadium, medical staff will have to decide if they saw enough in one brief session to pass him fit to play.
“He’s only 50-50 for game one, but he’s likely to play games two and three,” a team spokesman said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
Steve Smith will captain the Australian team in the absence of Pat Cummins. It’s the first time Smith has captained the Australian 50-over team since January 2018.
Warner’s spot in the one-day team is not subject to the same scrutiny as his position in the Test side.
His most recent 50-over innings was 106 against England in Melbourne in November, and he’s passed 80 in four of his last 10 innings in that format of the game.
He averages 55.80 in ODIs in India, which will host the World Cup later this year.
On Thursday, Warner was appointed captain of the Delhi Capitals for the upcoming IPL.
The Capitals are coached by fellow Aussie Ricky Ponting. Warner replaces Rishabh Pant as captain, after Pant was injured in a serious car accident in December.
Warner captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the 2016 IPL title.
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