MELBOURNE: Australia opener David Warner is within the body for the World Test Championship last in opposition to India however selectors’ boss George Bailey declined to again him as an automated inclusion for the Ashes squad.
Selectors will choose a wider squad in about two weeks for the WTC decider at The Oval from June 7-11 and for the primary two Tests of the Ashes sequence, which begins on June 16 in Birmingham.
Apart from a defiant 200 in opposition to South Africa in December, lefthander Warner has struggled for runs in latest Tests, making a complete of 26 in three innings within the latest tour of India earlier than returning house injured.
Despite that, head coach and selector Andrew McDonald stated final month Warner was in Australia’s plans for the WTC last.
Warner was included in Cricket Australia’s record of 24 nationally contracted gamers on Thursday however Bailey stopped in need of saying it was an endorsement for the Ashes.
“I think Dave, like any player is, is at the mercy of selection,” Bailey informed reporters.
“The Ashes is a huge series and we’ll be looking to pick our best team. We’re going to have to have our best team playing incredibly well to challenge England over there, the way they’re playing at the moment.”
Asked why Warner wouldn’t be picked in an Ashes squad if he have been to play in English circumstances in the course of the WTC last, Bailey stated he endorsed McDonald’s level that England have been a unique staff to India.
“I support Andrew’s comments on that around David.
“I believe there’s quite a lot of variations (between the groups). But we’re a few weeks away from asserting that squad.”
Warner averaged 9.50 in the 2019 Ashes in England, the worst ever by an opener to play 10 innings in a series.
Travis Head replaced him at the top of the order in India and batted superbly in the last two Tests but selectors said his promotion was a short-term fix.
Opener Marcus Harris was a surprise inclusion in the list of contracted players, having played the last of his 14 Tests against England in January 2022.
Selectors will choose a wider squad in about two weeks for the WTC decider at The Oval from June 7-11 and for the primary two Tests of the Ashes sequence, which begins on June 16 in Birmingham.
Apart from a defiant 200 in opposition to South Africa in December, lefthander Warner has struggled for runs in latest Tests, making a complete of 26 in three innings within the latest tour of India earlier than returning house injured.
Despite that, head coach and selector Andrew McDonald stated final month Warner was in Australia’s plans for the WTC last.
Warner was included in Cricket Australia’s record of 24 nationally contracted gamers on Thursday however Bailey stopped in need of saying it was an endorsement for the Ashes.
“I think Dave, like any player is, is at the mercy of selection,” Bailey informed reporters.
“The Ashes is a huge series and we’ll be looking to pick our best team. We’re going to have to have our best team playing incredibly well to challenge England over there, the way they’re playing at the moment.”
Asked why Warner wouldn’t be picked in an Ashes squad if he have been to play in English circumstances in the course of the WTC last, Bailey stated he endorsed McDonald’s level that England have been a unique staff to India.
“I support Andrew’s comments on that around David.
“I believe there’s quite a lot of variations (between the groups). But we’re a few weeks away from asserting that squad.”
Warner averaged 9.50 in the 2019 Ashes in England, the worst ever by an opener to play 10 innings in a series.
Travis Head replaced him at the top of the order in India and batted superbly in the last two Tests but selectors said his promotion was a short-term fix.
Opener Marcus Harris was a surprise inclusion in the list of contracted players, having played the last of his 14 Tests against England in January 2022.
(AI image)
Matt Renshaw, another opener, and middle order batsman Peter Handscomb were overlooked despite both playing in India.
Bailey said Renshaw and Handscomb played in India because of their skill-sets but Harris was contracted with English conditions in mind, along with the home Tests and a tour of New Zealand next year.
Harris has averaged 19.75 in seven Tests against England, compared to a career average of 25.29.
“We actually fee Harry’s (Harris) means in these circumstances – actually good robust document in England as nicely,” stated Bailey.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com