David Warner out for 6 weeks with a fractured thumb

David Warner out for 6 weeks with a fractured thumb: David Warner will miss the rest of Australia’s campaign against England in the ongoing ODI series after breaking his thumb. The explosive left hander was hit by a Steven Finn delivery off the second ball of the day in the second ODI at Lords. It was the most inauspicious of starts for the visitors as Warner retired hurt and had to be immediately rushed off the field. He was looking to fend off a short one from the lanky pacer but the ball rose pinged him on his left thumb. X rays later revealed a fracture meaning he will be away from cricket for atleast 6 weeks. Australia are yet to name a replacement for the hard-hitting southpaw.

Warner will now travel with the squad to Manchester, where the third of the five-match contest starts on Tuesday, and fly home on Monday, with a replacement to be announced, a Cricket Australia spokesman said. Meanwhile CA also announced on Twitter about Warner’s injury.

The injury might also rule him out of the Test series in Bangladesh next month. That would mean that the Australian selectors will need to consider an all-new opening combination for the assignment following the retirement of Chris Rogers. Joe Burns and Cameron Bancroft are the leading contenders for that position.

Warner had been struggling to cope with the rising ball right throughout the Ashes. The blow comes as a huge one for the Aussies as Warner is an integral member of their ODI unit. Shane Watson was also off the field during England’s innings, having suffered a calf strain. He will also undergo scans once the team arrives in Manchester on Sunday to determine his availability for the rest of this series.