Warner has been battling a groin strain sustained earlier this month playing white ball cricket against India and hasn’t been able to prove his fitness for the famous occasion.
Australia also confirmed fringe all-rounder Sean Abbott would also be unavailable for the Boxing Day Test despite being declared fit after calf tightness, with the pair unable to re-enter the bio-secure bubble in time for the Test match.
“Warner and Abbott spent time in Sydney outside the teams bio-secure hub to recover from injury,” the Cricket Australia statement said. “While neither player has been in a specific hotspot as outlined by NSW Health, Cricket Australia’s bio-security protocols do not allow them to rejoin the squad in time for the Boxing Day Test.
“Warner has not fully recovered from a groin injury suffered in the Dettol ODI Series against India and would not have been available for the second Vodafone Test match, while Abbott has recovered from a calf strain sustained during Australia As tour match against India and would have been available for selection for the Boxing Day Test.
“The pair travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to continue their rehabilitation given the changing public health situation in Sydney at the time.”
As a result, Marcus Harris and Moises Henriques have remained with the Australian Test squad, which won the First Test by eight wickets in Adelaide after skittling the tourists for 36 in the second innings.
Joe Burns re-discovered some form in the absence of Warner and Will Pucovski with a half-century in the second innings, including hitting the winning runs.
Pucovski appeared set to debut in Adelaide but missed the First Test due to concussion, opening the door for Cam Green to debut at six, with Matthew Wade moving up the order.
India have a number of issues ahead of the Second Test, with skipper Virat Kohli returning home for the birth of his first child, while Mohammed Shami has been ruled out for the series with a fractured arm.