David Warner has made a sensational turnaround after retiring from Test cricket in January, announcing he is ‘available’ for selection for the upcoming Australian series Against India.
In a rather bizarre interview, Warner told News Corp he was ‘dead serious’ about the claim, with the 37-year-old also stepping down from the Australian ODI team despite continuing to play for Australia in this year’s T20 World Cup .
Warner even admitted he had been in contact with Australian men’s coach Andrew Mcdonald and selector George Bailey about the move.
It comes amid a storm of speculation over who Australia will top the order against India this summer.
Cameron Green is expected to be sidelined for around six months after suffering a stress fracture in his lower back and will now undergo surgery on the problem. Steve Smith, meanwhile, will drop to number 4 after his brief spell at the top of the rankings.
Questions are mounting over whether 19-year-old prodigy Sam Konstas could be picked to start at the top after hitting two centuries for New South Wales in his opening match against the Sheffield Shield.
Other stars Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw have both failed to reach triple figures in their first five Shield games this summer.
But Warner has made it clear he is ready for a stunning return.
“I’m always available, all I have to do is pick up the phone,” he said News Corp on Tuesday.
‘I’m always dead serious. Let’s face it, the boys have played one red ball (first round of shield) match since their last Test matches in February, so I’ve had almost the same preparation.”
Marcus Harris, meanwhile, has started the summer in good form and is likely to be included as one of the first-order batsmen this summer, hitting 143 in his first innings against Tasmania two weeks ago.
“Honestly, if they really needed myself for this series I would be more than happy to play the next Shield game and go there and play,” added Warner, who has not played in the Shield this summer, to it.
Former Australia Test batsman David Warner has made himself available for selection ahead of this summer’s series against India
Warner said he retired for the right reason but would step back from international life if his country needed him
“I stopped for the right reasons to finish the game, and I wanted to finish it. (But) my hand is up if they need someone urgently. I’m not going to avoid that.’
Warner recently played for the Trailblazers in the MAX60 Carribean series but was candid about his approach to Australian coach and selector McDonald and Bailey.
“I rudely messaged both. I spoke to Torch (McDonald) and his response to me was; “You’re retired,” he said.
‘I don’t think he wants to give me the pleasure he says; “Can you come back?”
But despite Australia’s selection problems, some are baffled by Warner’s claims online, with some saying: ‘No thanks.’
“This is why we already don’t have an opener after staying too long,” said another.
Fans responded to Warner’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), with some agreeing that he should return, while others told him not to return
“There’s no one to mention you bro,” one added, while another said: “Think we’re a good champ, in fact if we hadn’t enjoyed your farewell tour we might have had some time for our next opener.’
“He had a two-year farewell tour, no need for a third summer,” said another.
However, one disagreed, claiming: ‘100 percent [Warner] must return because others have failed to act. They fail under the pressure of the Shield. There is no way they can handle the international pressure.”
Warner also addressed Australia’s problems in the first place, claiming: ‘My view is I liked what they thought last year, with Greeny being in their best top six (so make sure the positions are around that work).
‘It doesn’t necessarily have to be an opener. I think you can have someone else who can come in and hit three and Marnus (Labuschagne) could open up.
‘Is Nathan McSweeney (37 and 72 for South Australia) a good enough player to come in and hit 3?’
He also gave his verdict on Konstas after his exciting start to the season.
Warner claims to have contacted Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald about his possible return
“Konstas can certainly be that long-term opening batsman in the long run… and look, there’s every opportunity there for him to potentially do that, but I think you have to see a bit more.
“I think Will Pucovski was a much more complete cricketer than where Konstas is now and is a bit more of a strokemaker now. But Konstas can certainly be that in the long term.’