Injured Warner declares himself fit to play in Melbourne

Melbourne, Dec 24 (IANS) Injured Australian opener David Warner, despite admitting he was yet not entirely pain-free, has declared himself fit for the Boxing Day Test against India.

Warner is still recovering from a thumb complaint sustained in the second Test after being hit by a Umesh Yadav delivery. But the left hander practised Wednesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here without any massive discomfort.
Present Pakistani team can win the World Cup: Moin Khan (read more)

"It was a bit sore when it hit the splice or the toe of the bat but that's to be expected, but I feel good and I'm ready to go," Warner was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday.

"(There's been) talk about (my) bottom hand being a bit looser and it's probably going to help me a bit I think, but when the ball hits the splice I found out today it's going to be quite painful but I can bear that pain and I can get out there on Boxing Day.

He revealed he felt pain while batting against spinners at the nets Wednesday but could muster the courage to bear it and plans to adopt a similar approach while playing the third Test, starting Friday.

"I tried to have a dip at the spinners to see if I could actually hit the ball as hard as I can and it did feel real sore but I had to try and grind it out and get through that pain and I was able to do that," the 28-year-old said.