Australian opener David Warner has reflected on his gritty half-century performance in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, despite battling through a severely injured hand. The left-handed batsman acknowledged the discomfort he felt and hinted at the possibility of seeking medical examination after the conclusion of the Test match.

Warner, 36, has been the recipient of several painful blows to his hands in recent times. He suffered a strike from Indian paceman Mohammed Shami during the World Test Championship Final. Furthermore, while batting in the nets, he faced an unfortunate blow from coach Michael Di Venuto, leaving him with a bruised palm. Follow your favourite cricket team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.

Despite these injuries, Warner displayed remarkable resilience as he notched up 66 runs off 88 deliveries. His contribution proved crucial for Australia, particularly considering England’s decision to bowl first in challenging overcast conditions.

“While I never doubted myself, it was undeniably quite painful. Initially, the discomfort was centered in my palm, particularly a sensitive area around my thumb that caused a jarring sensation with every contact made with the ball. Today, I received a blow on the knuckle, the same spot where Mohammed Shami had struck me during the World Test Championship,” Warner revealed in his interaction with ESPNcricinfo.

He continued, “Throughout the afternoon, I had been immersing my hand in an ice bucket, so I’ll have to assess it further after the match.”

Warner received a stroke of luck early on in his innings when Ollie Pope dropped a catch off Stuart Broad’s bowling when he was on 20. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Warner went on to complete a determined half-century, featuring eight boundaries and a six.

Although Warner has consistently made starts in recent matches, including a score of 43 in the World Test Championship final and 36 at Edgbaston, he has struggled to convert these into substantial innings. Nevertheless, the Australian opener expressed confidence in his batting prowess, saying, “Over the past six to eight months, I have felt an unwavering sense of control over my game. I experienced 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 firmly believe that by consistently putting myself in these positions, a significant inning is just around the corner.”

Earlier this month, Warner expressed his desire to conclude his Test career by playing his final match against Pakistan in Sydney in January 2024. Get the latest updates from the world of cricket only on Nextbet Sports.