India vs Australia: David Warner may play in Sydney even if he's not 100% fit: McDonald

A struggling Australia are prepared to risk playing seasoned opener David Warner in third Test against India even if he is t 100% fit, assistant coach Andrew McDonald said on Thursday.

third Test is scheduled to be played in Sydney from January 7-11.

In absence of Warner, who was recovering from a groin muscle tear, Australia's batting failed miserably in first two matches.

"That's a real, clear option. He may t be 100 per cent fit -- who is coming off an injury? You never kw until you get out re," McDonald said during a virtual press conference.

"Look, if he's 90-95% fit and conversation is that he's fit eugh to be able to go out re and perform his duties for team, n I'm sure that'll be a conversation coach has with player.

"Most times Justin (Langer) is pretty open with players in terms of giving m accountability around that." Warner has been named in squ along with Victorian young gun Will Pucovski for third Test as Australia look to bounce back from eight-wicket loss in Boxing Day Test here.

McDonald said Warner is optimistic about making a comeback in Sydney.

"He's (Warner) very optimistic that he should be rey to go, which is a great news for us. We are really excited to have him back.

"I'm sure that he's excited to come back into group as well. re's thing worse than being injured when you are at top of your game as David has been over a period of time." Pucovski, too, is set for a potential debut after youngster suffered a concussion in first warm-up match against Indians earlier this month.

"He will be put through tests whatever it needs to be put through to make himself available for selection to potentially open batting. So it's good to have a little bit of depth out re." One of biggest setbacks for Aussies so far has been a rare slump in form for batting mainstay Steve Smith, who has so far scored only 10 runs in four innings in series.

"I wouldn't be too quick to be judging Steve Smith t looking good in middle. He looks pretty solid and hitting ball well at nets," McDonald said.

Asked if life in a bio-bubble was affecting Smith, he said: ", ne whatsoever. Obviously we worked closely at UAE with Rajasthan Royals and re's thing to suggest that re's a link re.

"I'm sure ideally you would prefer to be with your family around Christmas time and Justin dressed that. Some players and staff members unfortunately are going to be disconnected from family during Christmas time, less than ideal re's doubt.

"Yeah, it's a challenge to rebound. world's best players usually rebound. He's (Smith) in a really good to be honest, come Sydney Test." assistant coach h a similar opinion for Marnus Labuschagne, who missed out on fifties in both elaide and Melbourne.

"Technically y're rey to go. It's about how y score ir runs and how y're going to combat se attacks from Indian bowlers. Yes, y want to make sure that y are technically in a good but it's more about method w." Australian batsmen were strangled down leg-side with brilliant bowling strategy by Indians.

"Probably question for me at moment is technical or technically way that India have prepared and able to probably control particularly with that sort of leg side ory, so to speak," he said.

In second Test, India skipper Ajinkya Rahane introduced his star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as early as 11th over, and he delivered by dismissing Matw We and Smith in his first spell to help his team bowl out Australia for 195 in ir first innings.

McDonald said y were surprised to see bounce and turn on MCG wicket.

"I think one of things that really surprised everyone was surface at MCG on Boxing Day. It hasn't been what we've rmally assumed to be flat strength.

"We weren't expecting spin to play a significant role at MCG on day one in particular. It spun and bounced off main part of surface. So, to me wicket probably surprised us a little bit.

"We probably weren't able to apt quick eugh during that period of time to combat Indian bowlers," McDonald concluded.

Im credits: Twitter