Warner confident of being fit for first Sri Lanka Test

David Warner may yet miss both of Australia's warm-up matches in Sri Lanka, but both he and coach Darren Lehmann are confident he will be fit and ready for the first Test starting on July 26.

Warner missed the second half of the recent one-day tri-series in the West Indies due to a broken finger and he is expected to sit out of an intra-squad practice match in Sri Lanka next week. The Australians hope Warner will be able to play a first-class tour game that follows, but even if he misses that he could still figure in the first Test.

"I've done it before," Warner told reporters in Sydney on Friday, referring to going into a Test with no warm-up games. "I've picked up a bat and gone back out there and tried to play to the best of my abilities. Sometimes it comes off. You always want some time in the nets.

"For myself, I've said in the past, less is more. I prefer to go into a lot of the games fresh. I don't usually hit a lot leading into any series or any game. I just like to go in there and bat for 20 minutes or so."

The injury to Warner's left index finger, sustained while fielding in an ODI in St Kitts, has prevented him from any form of batting for nearly a month. Warner said more than batting, he was concerned about how ready he would be to take an active part in the field for Australia, in his usual position in the slip cordon.

"The biggest thing for myself is the fielding aspect," Warner said. "I field in the slips, so I'm going to have to try take a handful of catches there to make sure it's nice and warm."

Australia's coach Darren Lehmann was equally confident that Warner would be ready to take his place alongside Joe Burns at the top of the order for the first Test. Shaun Marsh is the back-up batsman in Australia's squad who would likely step in if Warner was ruled out.

"He will be fine," Lehmann told the Age. "He probably won't play the two-day game but should play the first-class game - the tour game before we play the first Test. Even if he didn't, I am not too worried about that. He is one of these guys who picks up a bat quite quickly.

"He has had broken fingers and injuries before, and we have just plugged him back into Test cricket and he is fine. We would like him to play the tour game and, hopefully, medically he can, but if he can't, I am not too stressed. As long as he is available for the first Test."

Lehmann is also returning from some time off, having stayed at home in Australia while Justin Langer stood in as head coach for the tour of the West Indies.

"I am really excited to get back in the hot seat, if you like," Lehmann said. "Justin did a great job and obviously had a good result in the West Indies. I think he summed it up beautifully, the way we have a bit of improvement to do in that format of the game."