David Warner Open to Returning for Australia's Test

Former Australian opener David Warner has expressed his willingness to come out of Test retirement for the upcoming series against India. Since Warner, 37, retired in January, Steve Smith has been partnering with Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the four Tests that followed. However, Smith is set to return to his preferred number four position for the India series due to all-rounder Cameron Green’s back injury, leaving Australia in search of a new opener to accompany Khawaja.

Warner told Code Sports that he is available for selection, stating that he's "always dead serious" and just a phone call away. Warner mentioned he reached out to both head coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey about a potential return. However, McDonald reportedly responded by reminding him that he had already retired.

Despite Warner’s willingness to play, there are no signs that Australia is considering recalling him. Instead, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, and Matthew Renshaw are seen as the frontrunners to open with Khawaja. 

Australia will host India for a five-Test series starting in November, with India aiming to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Warner retired with an impressive record of 8,786 runs, including 26 centuries, in 112 Tests at an average of 44.59. His final Test appearance came in a win against Pakistan at his home ground in Sydney. He had also retired from one-day internationals before that match, and stepped away from T20 internationals following Australia’s exit from the T20 World Cup in June.

Warner continues to play T20 franchise cricket and has signed a two-year contract with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. Though he hasn’t played in the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s domestic red-ball competition, since 2021, Warner said he would gladly participate in the upcoming Shield round if necessary for the India series.

While Warner acknowledged he retired for the right reasons and intended to step away from the game, he pinpointed his readiness to return if Australia needed him. He added that if the team was in desperate need of an opener, he wouldn't shy away from the opportunity.

Smith, who struggled as an opener in the four Tests, averaging just 28.50, will return to the middle order following Green's absence due to spinal surgery. Meanwhile, Bancroft, Harris, and Renshaw have had limited success in their Test careers. Bancroft, who last played for Australia in the 2019 Ashes, has been in top form in the Sheffield Shield over the past two seasons. Young New South Wales opener Sam Konstas, 19, has also impressed, scoring centuries in both innings during the opening round of this year's Shield.