Australian opening batsman, David Warner, is realistic about his chances of making a return to cricket after suffering a thumb injury in the second One-Day International against England at Lord’s.

Warner was trying to fend a short ball from Steven Finn in the second ODI, but was struck on his thumb, forcing him to leave the field immediately.

Further scans on his injured thumb revealed a fracture, which means that he will be out of action for four to six weeks.

Warner suffered a similar injury in January 2013 when he was hit in the nets while facing Mitchell Johnson, but was able to recover in time to make the tour to India that year. 

Given the extent of the injury this time, Warner knows that his chances of making it to the Bangladesh tour are very minimal.

“I know from last time when it was actually just a minor fracture, it was a minimum of three weeks before I could pick up a bat.

“As I said before you never want to miss a Test match.

“I never do want to miss a Test match but it’s probably highly unlikely I’m going to make Bangladesh.” 

The two-match Test series against Bangladesh will begin on 9th October, which is a little over four weeks from now.

Revealing that it will be at least six weeks before he can even lift a bat, Warner is looking forward to meeting the coach and the selectors to chart a timeline for his return.

“At the moment it’s six weeks with the thumb so that’s before I can pick up a bat.

“So I think that pretty much sums up what I can and can’t do.

“So for me it’s about trying to target what’s after that and sit down with obviously the coach and the selectors and see what I have to do.” 

Warner has been in good form for Australia in 2015, scoring 621 runs from eight Tests at an average of 41.40, including a hundred and six fifties. 

Warner has been in good form for Australia in 2015, scoring 621 runs from eight games at an average of 41.40, including a hundred and six fifties.

Though the 28-year-old is disappointed with the timing of the injury, he is looking forward to making a return to first-class cricket about eight weeks from now.

“You never want to miss any games for Australia and especially I wanted to go on with the form (I believe I was in) to try and put some big scores on the board in this one-day tournament and now I’m going to miss the rest of this and quite possibly the Test series.

“I’m gutted. I’m not happy about that but I’ll get a bit of a break now and got six to eight weeks off before we have to come back and assemble for the first-class game in Adelaide.

“So look it’s now time to get back as soon as possible and then I can work on my fitness for longevity of the next few years.”

With the retirement of Chris Rogers and the injury to Warner, Australia will have to look for a new set of openers for the Bangladesh tour.

The players that are in contention for taking up the opening positions are Joe Burns, Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja.

© Cricket World 2015