October 24th 2024.
David Warner is making a comeback! The veteran batter has made himself available for Australia's upcoming series against India. However, Test captain Pat Cummins has already ruled out the possibility of Warner returning to the team. This leaves Australia's selectors with a conundrum as they search for a partner for Steve Smith at the top of the order, with Usman Khawaja's spot now vacant.
There are several contenders for the opening position, including Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw, and 19-year-old prospect Sam Konstas. But Warner, Australia's fifth-highest run scorer in history, has also expressed his interest in returning to the team. In a recent interview, the 37-year-old stated that he is always available and just needs a call from the team's head coach, Andrew McDonald.
Warner retired from Test cricket earlier this year, but he believes he is still well-prepared to play against India, as the team has only played one red-ball game since their last Test matches in February. He is dead serious about his availability and is even willing to play in the next Shield game if needed.
Meanwhile, Smith has been opening the batting for the Test team, but there has been speculation that he wants to move back to his preferred position at number four. However, he has dismissed these reports, stating that he is happy to bat wherever the team needs him to, but four would be his ideal position.
Cummins, who recently had a phone call with Warner, jokingly revealed that his former teammate had asked for his opinion on a possible return. But the Test captain shut down any hopes of a comeback, stating that they love Warner, but he is retired. He believes Warner's recent comments about making a comeback were just a bit of a wind-up.
Smith also clarified that he had not requested to bat at number four and is happy to bat wherever the team needs him to. He stated that he had simply expressed his ideal position, but he is not fussed about the batting order. Smith also dismissed rumors that he had requested to bat at number four, stating that it was not the case. He is willing to bat wherever the team needs him to and is focused on performing well for the team.
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