The former Australian opening batter, David Warner has come out and said that he is willing to come out of retirement from Tests to help his national side should they need him to fill the vacant opener’s slot for the upcoming five-match Test series against India.
Warner decided to call time on his red-ball career after the recent three-match Test series against Pakistan earlier in 2024. Despite playing in 112 Tests the veteran has mentioned that he would be willing to play for his domestic side, New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield to prove that he is in good touch.
He retired last summer after scoring 8,786 runs and 26 centuries, including a career-best 335 not out.
Warner made it clear that his offer was serious, denying any suggestion that his comments were made in jest. “I’m always available, just got to pick up the phone,” Warner told Code Sports. “I’m always dead serious. Honestly, if they really needed myself for this series, I’m more than happy to play the next Shield game and go out there and play.”
“I did retire for the right reasons to finish the game, and I wanted to finish. But my hand is up if they desperately need someone. I’m not going to shy away from that,” Warner said, adding that he had cheekily messaged both Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey about the situation. “I’ve spoken to Torch (McDonald) and his answer back to me was, ‘you retired,’” Warner laughed. “I don’t think he wants to give me the pleasure of him saying, ‘can you come back?’”
Australia are currently in a bit of a pickle with regards to who would open the batting. Steve Smith who had raised his hands for the role following Warner’s retirement has retured to his usual spot at 4 to ensure that they get the best out of the ace batter.
Young talents like Sam Konstas, who impressed with back-to-back centuries for New South Wales in his Sheffield Shield debut, are being discussed as potential future options, but Victoria’s Marcus Harris remains the only established candidate to score a century this season. Other contenders such as Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw have yet to make a strong case.
Warner also suggested that the opening slot could filled with a makeshift solution like Marnus Labuschagne going up the order. With regards to the young star in Sam Konstas, Warner reckons that he is one for the future and calling him up at the moment would be too soon.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be an opener,” Warner said. “I think you can have someone else come in and bat three, and Marnus could open. Is Nathan McSweeney (who scored 37 and 72 for South Australia) a good enough player to come in and bat three? There are options,” Warner shared.
“Konstas can definitely in time be that long-term opening batsman. But I think you still have to see a little bit more,” Warner added.
(with IANS Inputs)
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