Will take about six to nine months before I would be 100% fit but will continue playing, states David Warner
Warner returned to action during the Test series against India
|While admitting that he would be available to play, David Warner stated that it would take another six months to nine months before his groin injury could be healed completely. The opener also insisted that he would have to train his brain not to worry about the pain while playing.
When everything was going by Australia’s plans in their ODI series against India, their opener David Warner suffered a groin injury after putting out a dive in an attempt to save a boundary. While the opener never returned throughout the white-ball series, he was back in the mix for the last two Tests, where he was risked despite not being fully fit, after Australia lost the Test in Melbourne.Â
Further, the opener was picked in the squad for the away series against South Africa, which now has been postponed. Despite being named in the squad and ready to play cricket for New South Wales, David Warner stated that it would take another six to nine months before he could be completely fit.Â
"Now it's all about lateral, running between wickets, building that up. It's just the tendon that has got that slight tear in it now. It's going to aggravate me for the next six to nine months but I am sure the medicos will help me out there," Warner told Fox Cricket, reported Cricket Australia.Â
The 34-year-old opener is also an integral part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise, who would put in limbo if the opener rules himself out of the tournament. Yet, the left-handed batsman has stated that it is only about a mental mind-shift, teaching the brain not to worry about the pain. While he is confident about his availability, it is yet to be seen if Cricket Australia are forced to take a final decision on the player’s availability, owing to the all-important World T20 around the corner.Â
"I have spoken to a few people that have actually had that type of injury and they have just said it's a niggle. You have just got to teach your brain to not worry about the pain and that it's not going to happen again. It's just getting back that confidence to sidestep and run as hard as I can and dive around again. Once I get that, I will be right to go. It's just not 100 per cent there yet," he added.
However, the southpaw insisted that he’s almost back to 100% while sprinting in a straight line. He even revealed that his focus throughout the next week would be on the fielding, with the opener struggling in that aspect since his return from injury against India.Â
"I am almost back to full 100 per cent sprinting in a straight line. This next week is getting back to fielding, picking up, throwing, very difficult that was [in the] last couple of weeks, even trying to throw," Warner concluded.
