David Warner endured a rare flop show with the bat on Wednesday when the left-hander was dismissed for a duck in Australia's Cricket World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand at Brisbane.
Warner, who opened the innings with captain Aaron Finch, faced just five deliveries before being caught by Will Young off the bowling of medium-pacer Doug Bracewell.
It was an uncharacteristic end to an innings for a batsman who remains top of the ongoing Indian Premier League's run chart. Warner did his bit to help his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, to the IPL play-offs before returning to Australia to join their World Cup conditioning camp.
The former vice-captain, who spent a year away from international and first-class cricket after being banned for his role in a ball-tampering scandal during a Test in Cape Town, had scored 39 in the first warm-up match on Monday, which his side won by one wicket.
Some vintage Steve Smith shots in here as he returned to his best form in Australian colours today pic.twitter.com/TArSPUOuJQ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) May 8, 2019
Warner batted at No 3 in that game, with the team management reportedly opting not to tinker with the now-settled opening combination of Finch and Usman Khawaja.
But on Wednesday, Warner was promoted to the position he had made his for close to a decade before the scandal broke out, only to be dismissed for duck.
Finch scored just 16, but Khawaja scored 56 batting at one-down.
Australia, asked to bat first, posted 277-6 as former captain Steve Smith top-scored with 89. New Zealand overhauled the total with 16 balls to spare, as Young scored 130.
Richardson replaces Richardson for World Cup
Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson was ruled out of the World Cup on Wednesday after failing to recover from a dislocated shoulder, with Kane Richardson replacing him.
He picked up the injury during Australia's series against Pakistan in the UAE in March, but was included in the squad for the World Cup in England starting later this month.
But recent tests showed he would not be ready in time.
"This is obviously very disappointing news for the team and for Jhye, who has been exceptional throughout his rehabilitation process," team physiotherapist David Beakley said.
"After his most recent assessment and attempting to bowl in the nets, it was clear that Jhye was not progressing as fast as required.
"Therefore, in consultation with selectors, we made the decision to withdraw him from the squad."
Kane Richardson was called up to replace him, with long-time pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, who has been out of action since January with a back injury, overlooked.
When the squad was announced last month, chief selector Trevor Hohns said the focus was on having Hazlewood ready for the Ashes Test series in England which begins in August.
He was instead named in Australia's one-day A squad, which will play games in England while the World Cup is on.
