David Warner hand must eyeing to go all guns blazing in the all-important Test series against India which is set to kick off from February 9. The four-match Test series will not only be a slugfest of the big guns but will also decide the course of World Test Championship final race.
But right ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series, the star Australian southpaw has said that he is tired and exhausted by an intense home season.
Warner has gone through a hectic summer season playing in multiple formats ranging from ODI series against Zimbabwe, New Zealand and England and Tests against West Indies and South Africa.
The left-hander also played six matches for the Sydney Thunder in the ongoing BBL 2022–23. Well, after the Sydney Thunder's exit from the ongoing BBL 12, Warner said that he would like to spend a night off instead of attending Cricket Australia’s awards on Monday (January 30).
"It's been challenging. I'm quite tired and exhausted," Warner was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
"A few guys have gone to the UAE League but aren't attending the Cricket Australia awards. From my perspective, it would have been nice to have had another night at home. But it is what it is," he added.
The 36-year-old put a halt to his poor run of form after blasting a stunning double-century in his 100th Test. Not just this, Warner also looked in fine touch enroute to his impressive 20-ball 36 for Sydney Thunder in the BBL Eliminator. However, he ended up losing the match as the rain played the spoilsport which handed the win to Brisbane Heat.
The veteran opener also revealed the real reason behind taking part in the BBL 2022-23.
"You're not really trying to negate the spinning ball, it's a white ball as well," Warner said of the BBL.
"For me, it was about coming back and trying to inject some energy into the Thunder team and trying to put my best foot forward for the team. It hasn't come off this year.
"Hopefully, next year I can come out and be fresher than I am now. It will be a long lead-in to our summer (that includes the ODI World Cup in India). From a personal point of view, I'm going to have to try and work out how to stay nice and fresh," he concluded.
India's squad for first two Test against Australia: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, C Pujara, V Kohli, S Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
Australia's squad: Australia Test squad for India tour: Pat Cummins (capt), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
The Schedule
India vs Australia, 1st Test- February 9- February 13 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
India vs Australia, 2nd Test- February 17-February 21 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
India vs Australia, 3rd Test- March 01 - March 05 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
India vs Australia, 4th Test- March 9- March 13 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
