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Australia recall Warner, Pucovski after injury for SCG Test; Burns gets axed


Facing stern criticism after a heavy loss in the Boxing Day Test against the touring Indian side, Australia have welcomed back David Warner and uncapped Will Pucovski into the updated squad for the third Test slated to take place in Sydney. Also, horribly out of form opener Joe Burns has been dropped from the squad after three bad innings where he looked really out of sorts against the impressive Indian bowling attack.

David Warner had suffered a groin injury in the second ODI against India and walked off the field. He was ruled out of the T20I series and the two Tests that followed while Pucovski was hit on the head in the warm-up game by India’s net bowler Karthik Tyagi and he was ruled out due to concussion.

National selector Trevor Hohns said that Pucovski has recovered from the concussion and its subsequent symptoms. Pucovski is likely to debut at the SCG and will open the innings for Australia along with David Warner as the left-hander too, has been shaping up nicely after returning to the national team fold. There were few concerns on his mobility on the field but Australia desperately need him in pursuit of earning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back from India.

"David has made strong progress in his recovery from injury and will be given every chance to play in Sydney with another seven days until the match. Sean has fully recovered from a calf strain and is also available for selection,” Hohns said on Warner’s availability for the third Test.

"Will is in the final stages of the graduated return to play protocols and has been symptom-free for some time. He will be fit to play in Sydney subject to completing the return to play protocols and an independent assessment,” Hohns added on Pucovski’s concussion and his recovery from the symptoms after suffering his ninth concussion in life.

The Border-Gavaskar series is level at 1-1 and both sides will look to do well in the remaining part of the series. India too, have some good news, regarding Rohit Sharma’s return. But they would be fretting over the injury concerns of Umesh Yadav who walked off the field midway through an over in the second innings of Australia at the MCG on the third day.

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