Warner remains hampered two days out from Test

Australia say David Warner is ready to go for the second Vodafone Ashes Test, but the star opener remains hampered by the rib injury he suffered last week against England.

Warner, who made the most of a series of missed chances by England to score a crucial 94 in the series opener, did not field or bat in the second half of the first Test after two blows to the rib cage from England’s fast bowlers left him with severe bruising.

The 35-year-old wore a chest guard as he batted against throw-downs for about 30 minutes in the Adelaide Oval nets on Tuesday evening, but did not face bowlers and made audible cries of pain on a couple of cross-bat shot attempts.

After his short hit, which consisted of assistant coach Michael di Venuto almost exclusively pitching up with his ball thrower, Warner had conversations with coach Justin Langer and the team doctor Leigh Golding before leaving the nets.

Australia still have the best part of two days to decide if Warner is fit enough to play. Usman Khawaja is the only spare batter in the squad and has been endorsed by Ricky Ponting as the replacement opener if required.

Warner did not bat in Australia’s fourth innings nor field during England’s preceding innings, but teammates have suggested he was recovering well.

"I haven’t seen him since (landing in Adelaide) but I saw him straight after the game and he looked really good, like he was all ready to go," Cameron Green told the Unplayable Podcast on Tuesday.

Warner flew into Adelaide a day earlier than the bulk of the Aussie squad to reunite with his family having not seen them since leaving for the Indian Premier League three months ago.

"I flew home with him a couple of days ago. His family came into Adelaide which was nice," Travis Head told reporters on Tuesday morning.

"And he felt like he was in a good space. Obviously he was a little bit sore, we didn't take any risks with him only needing 20.

"He was going to bat but in the end our bowlers did a fantastic job to give him a day off. So I think for him it was just rest. I think he's ready to go. So no issues for David."

There were more promising signs on the injury front for England, with Ben Stokes having an extended bowl two days out from the second Test after the underdone allrounder struggled physically with the ball in Brisbane.

Stokes bowled for more than an hour and even hit captain Joe Root in the helmet, suggesting he has rediscovered the pace he was lacking after hurting his knee at the Gabba.

Warner’s absence would mark a considerable blow after becoming Australia’s leading run scorer in day-night Tests when he blazed his record-breaking 335 not out against Pakistan two summers ago.

Warner is also the most successful Test batter at Adelaide Oval over the past decade, having scored 1,045 runs at 80.38 including four centuries in eight matches at the venue.

Australia will have at least one selection call even if Warner is fit to play, with Josh Hazlewood a confirmed non-starter having suffered a side injury at the Gabba.

Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser are the contenders to replace him, with the former tipped as the frontrunner having collected 23 wickets at just 13.43 in four Sheffield Shield matches this summer.

Richardson bowled with extreme pace at training on Tuesday evening, striking Marnus Labuschagne in the body in a hostile spell under lights.

"He’s been unreal for WA back at Shield level," Green said of his Western Australia teammate Richardson on the Unplayable Podcast. "He’s been so relentless with his line and length and everyone can see the skill that he’s got.

"He’s been going at about one-an-over in the games he’s been playing for us and taking a lot of wickets as well. It feels like he’s a level above state cricket and he’s ready for Test cricket again.

"He’s a level above with that accuracy that he’s got.

"Out and out ‘Richo’ with pace is seriously scary. But he’s probably brought that (pace) a little bit back to be consistent. With all the skills he’s got as well he doesn’t really need it.

"In saying that, Richo dialling it back is still probably 140(kph). I can’t wait to see him if he plays."

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: Australia won by nine wickets

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena