David Warner limps off during ODI game

Test opener David Warner could be in doubt for the first Test against Pakistan on October 22 after suffering a groin injury in the final one-day game in Abu Dubai.

Warner scored 56 in Australia’s 9-231 on Sunday before limping off during Pakistan’s run chase which ended with the host side making 230 all out.

“We”ll assess him in the next couple of days,” Australia coach Darren Lehmann told a media conference.

“If he’s not right for the tour game, he won’t play.”

Australia’s four-day game against Pakistan A starts in Sharjah on Wednesday.

Skipper Michael Clarke is over his latest hamstring injury, Lehmann added.

“Clarke will be fine. He’ll play the tour game,” Lehmann said.

Uncapped allrounder Mitchell Marsh, who strained a hamstring while playing in the Champions League Twenty20 in India on September 30, is also making strong progress.

Lehmann said the 22-year-old paceman had a bowl in the nets on Sunday.

“I would think he’ll bowl somewhere in the tour game to prove his fitness,” Lehmann said.

“I would hope he would bowl some overs in the tour game. I expect him to.”

Ex-Test opener Phil Hughes, who made five on Sunday in his only hit in the ODI series, would presumably be an option if Warner isn’t fit for the Dubai Test.

Pace-bowling allrounder James Faulkner, who played in Sunday’s ODI clash, has been placed on standby for Marsh.

And offspinner Glenn Maxwell, who’s also in the Test squad, is vying with Marsh for the Test allrounder’s role left vacant by Shane Watson’s injury-enforced absence from the UAE tour.

While Marsh appears to be favourite at this stage pending fitness, Lehmann says the selectors will have to assess the Dubai pitch before making a call.

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