IND vs AUS: No one knows what the future holds for David Warner in the sport. But it’s very much possible that Warner has played his final Test match. The Australian opener, who fractured his elbow during the second Test against India in Delhi, has been ruled out of the remaining Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches. The 36-year-old has returned to Australia to finish his recovery before travelling again to India for the three-match ODI series that begins on March 17. Follow India vs Australia LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
Nevertheless, his abrupt departure has raised more questions about his future in the Test squad. Australian Media giant Fox Cricket has stated that Warner may have played his last Test for the Aussies.
IND vs AUS: Out-of-form and favour David Warner set for Test retirement after playing his LAST match in India, Follow LIVE
When asked whether Warner was still on Australia’s radar for the next Ashes series, national selector Tony Dodemaide sidestepped the query while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
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“We’re worried about what we can get out of these remaining two Tests, obviously that’s a clear focus for us at the moment,” Dodemaide said.
“We’ll address the Ashes planning (at a later time), but we are committed to picking the best fit and available players for Test series, particularly something as big as the Ashes. That’s not a question that we’ve addressed so far.”
“We are very keen, as everyone I’m sure at home would be, for us to get something out of this remaining series. We can still draw the series here, but it’s a tough ask in order to do that, there’s no doubt about that. Also for the World Test Championship, we’re desperate to get a result out of these last two games,” he added.
IND vs AUS: Out-of-form and favour David Warner set for Test retirement after playing his LAST match in India, Follow LIVE
The odds-defying 200 that Warner scored against South Africa at the MCG in December is starting to look more and more like an oddity than a late comeback. Because it was the only time he had reached fifty in his previous 15 Test innings.
Warner has played in Tests since the beginning of last year on average 17.70, with just two other half-centuries to his credit during that time.
While his double century in Melbourne continues to be his sole triple-figure score since January 2020, his most recent Test scores are 15, 10, 1, and 10.
Warner’s performance outside of Australia is also cause for concern; from 22 Test innings away from Australia after serving his ban in 2019, he has averaged just 16.85. In contrast, Mitchell Starc’s batting average in away Tests at that time was 20.33.
Warner however is going strong in the ODI format as he is poised to play in WC in India later this year.
