Batsman David Warner will take no further part in the second Test against India due to concussion. The opener, 36, was struck in the head when batting on the first day in Delhi by Mohammed Shami.
Renshaw made scores of just zero and two in the first Test before being dropped for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash but now has the chance to make amends. Following an underwhelming start on the subcontinent, Warner may have played his final Test for Australia.
Warner then did not field when Australia bowled. Queenslander Matthew Renshaw will replace Warner in the XI as a concussion substitute. The veteran opener is said to be dizzy and failed a fitness test ahead of day two. He is desperate to continue until the Ashes and the World Test Championship final in the middle of the year but selectors may opt for a fresh face to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Renowned across his career for finding the boundary with ease, Warner took 22 balls to get off the mark, with calls for Travis Head to replace him increasing by the day. Ahead of the second Test, quick Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Cameron Green also failed fitness tests, with selectors left with no choice but to play one seamer skipper Pat Cummins.
Warner averages 45.47 from 103 Tests, hitting 25 centuries the eighth most by an Australian but it is a very different story when at the crease in India. The man they call ‘Bull’ averages a dismal 22.16 across nine Tests when facing Virat Kohli and company – and his defensive approach on Friday was painful to watch.
The hosts will resume at 0/21 chasing Australia’s first innings total of 263. Spinners Nathan Lyon, debutant Matt Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy and part-time option Head will be tasked with taking the wickets on what looks like a challenging deck.
