David Warner, Steven Smith
David Warner and Steven Smith to hit nets ahead of India Tests. Image Courtesy: Getty

Former Australian batsmen Mark Waugh and Mike Hussey have criticized David Warner for the shot that he played on his return to Test cricket besides questioning his fitness.

David Warner made his appearance in the ongoing Australia-India Test series for the first time after having injured his groin during the second One-day International at the Sydney Cricket Ground just over a month ago.

Warner showed intent right from the very first ball he faced. However, it proved to be too much intent on the 8th ball that he faced as the southpaw went about chasing a wide delivery from Mohammed Siraj, only to give a sharp catch to Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon.

David Warner, Mark Waugh, Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj gives a send-off to David Warner. (Photo: Twitter)

Describing the shot as ‘loose’, Mark Waugh said that David Warner looked impatient in his approach.

“That’s just a loose shot. That’s not a shot you want to be playing in the first 20 minutes of a Test match,” Mark Waugh said as quoted by Fox Cricket.

“You’re driving on the up, it’s not there to drive and it’s wide as well and you’re throwing your hands at it. Even if his groin was okay, he would have had to take an almighty step to get even close to that delivery. Just an impatient shot really and maybe trying to get runs on the board quickly,” he added.

Mike Hussey echoed the same sentiments besides adding that the Australian southpaw did even look a 100 percent fit, pointing out the fact that he was ‘laboring a bit’ while running between the wickets.

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“He was running through, he’s certainly labouring a little bit and it’s not the David Warner we are used to seeing. He certainly is not even close to 100 per cent fit. It’s not a great sign,” Hussey had told Fox Cricket.

However, Australia have since then moved along nicely as Will Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne have added 50 runs for the second wicket on what looks like a typical flat pitch at the SCG.