Australia star batsman David Warner is a fitness concern ahead of the defending champions’ opening World Cup 2019 match against Afghanistan on Saturday.
Warner, who will be playing his first big game alongside Steve Smith after their ball-tampering suspensions, has been struggling with a sore glute which has restricted his movement in the field during practice sessions.
Australia coach Justin Langer said that Warner will open against Afghanistan at Bristol if he passes his fitness test.
“Davy’s batting seems OK,” Langer said. “He’s running in straight lines OK, but running from side to side he’s getting a bit of pain.
“He’s desperate to play, jumping out of his skin, and his energy is up. But we’ve got to make sure we don’t aggravate it in a long tournament. If he doesn’t make it, Shaun (Marsh) and Usman (Khawaja) will both play. If he does, then we’ve got to make a choice between Shaun and Usman, and that’s a really tough decision to make.”
Fitness concerns apart, Lander is also aware of the crowd pressure on the returning Warner and Smith. The duo were greeted frostily at the Ageas Bowl during Australia’s World Cup warm-up victory over England on Saturday, their first appearance against the English since the end of their one-year bans for ball tampering.
To no great surprise, there were audible boos, jeers, and chants of “cheat”, but Langer has urged supporters not to repeat that behaviour during the tournament itself.
“You (the media) talk about earning respect, and I think it’s really important that people show respect as well,” Langer said on Friday.
“They made a mistake and paid a big price for it. After the experience of Hampshire, we have a pretty good idea what to expect. We’ve talked about it a lot and we can put strategies in place. That said, when it happens it doesn’t make it any easier. They are human beings, that’s the truth – and that’s what I find the hardest.
“I’m a dad and a lot of the time the kids see it. You feel for them personally and they are going to have thick skins. But I’d be disappointed by any player being booed at any cricket ground, regardless of what country they play for. It’s never a good look when that happens.”
Provided by Press Association Sport
