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The Ashes: Embattled opener David Warner looks set to be given home summer as farewell from the sport

Scott BaileyAAP
Struggling opener David Warner looks set to be given another home summer.
Camera IconStruggling opener David Warner looks set to be given another home summer. Credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has given the strongest indication yet that David Warner will be granted one final home summer, throwing his support behind the opener’s end-of-tour performances in England.

Warner’s selection looms as a big talking point over the next four months, with the 36-year-old still targeting a January farewell to Test cricket against Pakistan at the SCG.

The opener missed another golden opportunity at The Oval to lock in a spot for the summer, with scores of 24 and 60 in the fifth Ashes Test helping his cause for selection without cementing his place.

Those two innings summed up his Ashes series, with Warner hitting two half-centuries in 10 attempts and making five scores between 20 and 40 for an average of 28.5.

Before Warner gets to the Test summer, a one-day World Cup looms in India, with the left-hander’s returns at the top of the order likely to have a big say in Australia’s fortunes.

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McDonald suggested Warner’s form in the World Cup would be unlikely to impact Test selection but indicated he had been buoyed by the opener’s end to the Ashes.

“Dave was picked in the last Test match here (at The Oval) and the way he went about it after a certain period of time was outstanding,” McDonald said.

“He’s always going to have some sort of speculation around what he’s doing and where he’s heading.

“But we’ve got a long time before that first Test match in Australia in Perth (in mid-December).

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: David Warner of Australia makes their way off after being dismissed during Day Five of the LV= Insurance Ashes 5th Test Match between England and Australia at The Kia Oval on July 31, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Camera IconAustralia aren’t in a rush to make a call on David Warner. Credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“We’re not in any rush to make any key decisions ... for any format.”

Warner’s selection is not the only headache looming for Australia.

Officials are well aware they must begin future-proofing the national side, with the majority of the team unlikely to tour England when Australia next return in 2027.

A similar challenge awaits the white-ball teams after the ODI World Cup, with Australia needing to usher in change across the board.

There is also the question of how to juggle Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green in the Test set up.

Green lost his spot during a lacklustre tour of England but at age 24 has long been regarded as the future of Australian cricket.

“Mitch Marsh took his opportunity at the right time, and the way he played he put immense pressure on the opposition bowling,” McDonald said.

“Cameron Green is an integral part of Australian cricket moving forward, so we will have some decisions to make during the home summer.

“Can they fit in in the same team? We have done that once before (at Old Trafford), albeit we left the spinner out.

“But we see both having big futures in all three formats for Australian cricket.

“Now’s not the time to put a line through one and support the other.”

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