David Warner ruled out of opening Test against India

Warner injured his abductor muscle during the second ODI and it is understood that he will stay in Sydney to continue his rehabilitation while the majority of the Australia squad travel to Adelaide

• South Africa episode highlights the perilous knife-edge on which cricket exists
• England camp given all-clear after Covid-19 tests come back negative

Australia batsman David Warner has been ruled out of the first Test in their series against India.

Warner injured his abductor muscle during the second ODI and it is understood that he will stay in Sydney to continue his rehabilitation while the majority of the Australia squad travel to Adelaide.

"I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it’s best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue working on getting back to full fitness," Warner said in the statement.

"The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my team mates that it is 100 percent ready for Test match conditions.

"That includes running between the wickets and being agile in the field. Right now I feel I am short of being able to play at peak fitness and another 10 days will make a difference."

With the 34-year-old missing the opening Test of the series, it means that Australia will be without a batsman that has played a huge role in the team for the last decade.

Australia having been dealt a further blow at the top of the order. Warner’s likely replacement Will Pucovski was struck on the helmet by a bouncer and was forced to retire in a tour match. Warner’s opening partner last year, Joe Burns, scored a total of four runs in the same match.

The Test series between Australia and India kicks off on December 17 in Adelaide. Tests will also be played in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Gift a subscription to The Cricketer this Christmas and choose your free gift (a £20 John Lewis gift card or copy of Bob Willis: A Cricketer & A Gentleman). Subscribe here 

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.