David Warner said what everyone was already thinking by revealing his biggest mistake in the dramatic Test series loss to India.
Star batsman David Warner has conceded he rushed back too quickly after a groin injury that isn’t yet 100 per cent recovered.
Warner revealed he suffered tears in his lower abdomen and groin after diving in the field in a one-day game against India last November.
He missed the opening two Test against the Indians as he recovered but returned for the final two, playing hurt, as the Aussies lost the series 2-1.
Warner said he felt “pretty good” now but needed a cortisone injection this week to aid his return for NSW in both a one-day and Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Adelaide.
But he said he probably shouldn’t have played the two Tests.
“I made the call to play those Test matches. I felt I needed to be out there,” Warner said on Wednesday.
“It put me back a little bit. Looking back in hindsight, I probably wouldn‘t have done that.
“If I‘m thinking about myself and the injury, I probably would have said no.
“I did what I felt was best for the team.”
Warner, who has conceded he would be limited by the injury for some time, said he was in “horrible” pain when he first hurt himself.
“It was like I got kicked in the nuts. It was horrible. I’d never felt anything like it,” he said.
“It was a lower ab tear with two other tears in my groin. It was quite painful.”
He said because of the pain he wasn’t able to get in the rehab work he needed to do before returning for the SCG Test in January,
“For me to get back on the park was a lot of strength work … speed work which I couldn’t get in before those Tests, I just couldn’t do it,” he said.
“I feel pretty good (now). The other day I went and had a jab, a cortisone, so I have been running freely.
“I’m pretty much at 100 per cent running in straight lines. Now it’s about the side-to-side, lateral movement.
“I’m not going to do further damage, it’s just going to be a little niggle for a little while. There’s not much I can do about it.”
NSW coach Phil Jaques said it was a bonus to have Warner back.
“We all know Davey‘s quality as a player in all formats, and it’s great to see him back for the Blues for this game,” Jaques said.
“He has worked really hard on his rehab and has been great around the group when he’s been at training. It will be fantastic to have his experience around the team over the coming weeks.”
Test fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are also back for the NSW Shield team, but Pat Cummins will only play the one-day game.
Starc missed the last Shield match against Victoria following the death of his father, while Hazlewood was rested.
