'I never doubted myself but it was undeniably quite painful' - David Warner on struggling with injured hand at Lord's

Australian opening batter David Warner has shared his thoughts on getting a half-century while contending with a severely injured hand on the first day of the second Ashes Test at Lords. The southpaw acknowledged that he is having some discomfort with his hand, mentioning the possibility of having it examined after the Test match concludes.

The 36-year-old opener has recently endured several painful blows to his hands. He was struck by the Indian paceman Mohammed Shami during the WTC Final. Additionally, he received a blow from coach Michael Di Venuto while batting in the nets and he is carrying a bruised palm as well.

Despite the injuries, Warner displayed remarkable resilience by scoring 66 runs off 88, a crucial contribution made under challenging circumstances after England won the toss and elected to bowl amidst overcast conditions.

"Although I never doubted myself, it was undeniably quite painful. Initially, the discomfort was there in the palm, with a sensitive area around my thumb where every contact with the ball caused a jarring sensation. Today, I got a blow on the knuckle, an area where Mohammed Shami had struck me in the World Test Championship," Warner said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"I've been dipping my hand in an ice bucket all afternoon, so I'll have to wait and assess it after the game, he continued," he added.

Warner received a fortunate lifeline early in his innings when Ollie Pope dropped him on 20 as he edged a ball from his nemesis, Stuart Broad. He, then completed a resolute half-century, comprising eight boundaries and a six.

While he has been able to make starts, including a score of 43 in the WTC final and 36 at Edgbaston, he has struggled to convert most of them into significant innings. Nevertheless, Warner emphasized his confidence in his batting, stating:

"I have experienced an unwavering sense of command over my game in the last six to eight months. I sensed something truly exceptional during the World Test Championship final, and I carried that momentum into the previous game. I am genuinely excited about it, and I believe that if I continue to put myself in these positions, a substantial inning is just around the corner."

In a statement earlier this month, Warner expressed his desire to play his final Test match against Pakistan in Sydney in January 2024.