Australia rocked by scary David Warner moment on eve of Ashes
Australia’s Ashes hopes took a momentary nosedive on Monday when David Warner limped out of a training session.
The returning Aussie opener suffered a bruised thigh in the nets after inside-edging a delivery from Michael Neser.
Warner left the nets alongside the team physio, however fans and teammates breathed a sigh of relief when management insisted it was nothing more serious than a bruise.
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The tourists were preparing on the Edgbaston pitch before the first Test against England, which starts on Thursday, when Warner suffered the blow.
He was pictured receiving attention from medical staff and was required to treat the injury with ice.
Warner is set to be a key man for Australia in this series, the opener playing Test cricket again for the first time since the fateful tour of South Africa last year.
Khawaja passes fitness test, Bancroft firms for recall
Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja passed a fitness test on Monday during a marathon session that was extended beyond normal limits because rain is predicted for both Tuesday and Wednesday.
The speed in which the 32-year-old sprinted between the wickets, under the watchful supervision of team staff, suggests that either Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft will be squeezed out of the XI in Birmingham.
Bancroft, returning to Australia's Test squad for the first time since serving a nine-month ban for his role in the Cape Town cheating scandal, and incumbent Harris remain locked in a tight battle to open with Warner in the series opener.
Selectors were mulling a top three of Warner, Harris and Bancroft if Khawaja should be unavailable because of his hamstring injury.
One of the more intriguing scenes at Edgbaston was the pairing of Harris and Steve Waugh working together to deliver sharp close-in catches for Bancroft.
Harris and Waugh took turns hitting the ball at Bancroft, ensuring he was able to work on reacting to a left-hander and right-hander.
Bancroft's pain tolerance and reflexes at bat-pad, a fielding position generally reserved for the most inexperienced player in the team, is legendary.
Even Waugh, who saw plenty in a 168-Test career and is now serving as an Ashes consultant at Justin Langer's invitation, has been stunned.
"The one thing I have been amazed by is Cameron Bancroft's short leg practise," Waugh told reporters.
"I had a session with him the other day and I've never seen anything like it.
"I hit probably forty balls to him at close range, back in our day he might have caught ten of those. I think he caught 39. So if he plays, England beware because he's the best short leg I've ever seen.
"When we were playing, no-one wanted to be in at short leg and it was like a torture chamber to put someone in there but he just loves it."
Bancroft displayed similar stoicism in his match-winning knock of 93 not out against teammates last week, during which he copped several blows on a borderline dangerous pitch.
Tim Paine joked Bancroft seemingly has a "screw loose" because "he seems to enjoy getting hit on the body, it seems to make him bat better".
Good news for England
England spearhead Jimmy Anderson is surging towards a return in the first Ashes Test after being put through his paces at Edgbaston.
Anderson, having not played since tweaking his calf a month ago, did some sprint work for about 10 minutes on Monday at the venue.
Turning 37 on Tuesday, England's record wicket-taker took part in a few throwing drills and also briefly rolled his arm over.
The veteran didn't exhibit explosive pace but moved well and was set to face Australia in the series opener, starting on Thursday in Birmingham, unless he pulled up sore in coming days.
England might add Anderson, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to the XI who defeated Ireland last week at Lord's.
The return of Anderson, with 575 wickets from 148 Tests, would be an immense boost for the hosts.
with agencies