Warner makes one of the bravest calls of his career

Chennai - Australian opener David Warner, by making himself available for the first Test against India starting here on Friday with a fractured thumb, has risked his long career.

But Warner was always determined to play the first Test and his decision to play is perhaps one of the bravest calls in his career.

He picked up the injury while batting against Mitchell Johnson during a net session at the WACA in Perth and was advised three weeks’ rest. He still needs another week to recover from the injury.

The diminutive southpaw, however, is ready to risk permanent damage.

“I have a crack in the joint, which can be worse if it’s aggravated and if I put cortisone in there,” Warner was quoted as saying in the Australian media.

“They’ve told me if it keeps moving around, it won’t heal properly and it can affect me down the track. The precautionary thing we have done is keep it in the splint. It is painful but it is a process I am ready to go through to get through the first Test match.”

Warner said it still hurts him but he is ready to play for the country with pain.

“It is not affecting me at all, it is painful to bat with but I am prepared to put up with the pain to play for my country. I reckon I can do my job for the team and that’s what I will set out to do,” he said.

Warner admitted there could be serious damage to his thumb.

“I have a crack in the joint,” he said. “Where the joint moves, in the corner I have cracked that part, which in the healing process can be worse if it’s aggravated and if I put a cortisone (injection) in there.

“They (Cricket Australia medicos) have told me if it keeps moving around, it won’t heal properly and it can affect me down the track, so I might not have that range of movement in that joint for a long time.

“I have iced it every time after training, it has been sore yes, but that’s what is going to happen with a break.

“They said to me initially (to rest for) three to four weeks, it’s now coming up to the end of the third week and it is still pretty sore, but it is a process I am ready to go through to get through the first Test match.”