Australia-India Test evenly poised after Warner’s concussion

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The second Test between India and Australia is evenly poised after a fascinating second day in Delhi.

Australia reached 61-1 at stumps, a lead of 62, after India were bowled out for 262.

They recovered from 139-7 thanks to Axar Patel’s counter-attacking 74 in a stand of 114 with Ravichandran Ashwin.

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India lead the four-Test series 1-0 after an innings-and-132-run win in the opening Test in Nagpur.

Travis Head was 39 not out at close, promoted to the top of the order after opener David Warner was ruled out of the remainder of the Test with concussion.

Warner, who has been replaced by Matt Renshaw, also sustained a fractured elbow on Friday, putting him in doubt for the rest of the series.

Warner was hit on the elbow and on the helmet by Mohammed Siraj while making 15.

Although he continued to bat, Warner did not field later in the day and failed a concussion test. Scans later showed he has a small hairline fracture to his left elbow.

The third Test in Indore begins on March 1.

Warner’s form has been a much-debated topic, with a 200 against South Africa in December his only century in 17 Tests going back to January 2020.

He scored one and 10 in the first Test.

Left-hander Renshaw, who has played 13 Tests, played in the series opener, but was dropped after scores of nought and two.

Nine of India’s wickets fell to spin with Nathan Lyon taking 5-67, and passing 100 wickets against India, while debutant left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann claimed 2-72 and Todd Murphy 2-53.

The series will help to decide who qualifies for the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June, with Australia needing to draw one of the four Tests to secure a place.

India are second in the table and will qualify if they secure a 3-1 victory or better in this series. (BBC Sport)

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