Warner on mend after neck knock: Lehmann
Aug 16, 2017 - 6:42 AM Australian vice-captain David Warner is on the mend after copping a bouncer in the neck during a trial game, coach Darren Lehmann says.With the Test squad set to depart for Bangladesh on Friday, Lehmann says there's no doubt Warner will be on the flight to Dhaka.
The 30-year-old was rested for Wednesday's conclusion of the three-day intra-squad game in Darwin, despite passing a concussion test after being struck by a Josh Hazlewood ball on Tuesday afternoon.
Lehmann said Warner was nursing a stiff neck and headache after attempting a hook shot but misreading a short-pitched Hazlewood delivery.
"He seems alright, walking around the ground today, so fingers crossed he'll be okay and we'll get an update in the next day or two," Lehmann said.
"It's always a scare when that happens, isn't it?
"Hopefully he's going to be OK."
The incident threw a major scare into the Australian camp during their final tune-up for the two-Test Bangladesh series.
Warner hit the deck, seemingly a result of the momentum of the stroke as much as the impact of the ball, but almost instantly got back on his feet.
As Hazlewood and skipper Steve Smith rushed to check on his welfare, Warner dropped his bat, removed his helmet and walked off unassisted.
It served as the latest reminder of the dangers of the sport that were highlighted so tragically by the death of Phillip Hughes, a close friend of Warner, in 2014.
Hughes was struck on the neck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match and died in hospital two days later.
The Australian squad will enjoy a day off on Thursday after toiling in hot conditions designed to prepare them for the subcontinent.
While Peter Handscomb, Steve Smith and allrounder Hilton Cartwright put together big scores, it was a different story for Warner, Matt Renshaw and Usman Khawaja.
Australia will play a tour match commencing next Tuesday ahead of the first Test on August 27, and Lehmann said it would be a valuable chance for his top-order batsmen to spend more time at the crease.
"They're all pretty cooked, (which is) exactly what we wanted," Lehmann said.
"We would have liked to bat a bit longer today but they were tough conditions and that's exactly what we wanted obviously leading into Bangladesh.
"We've got to get better at batting for longer periods but I thought the spinners were good."
Source: AAP
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