George Bailey had the chance to confirm David Warner’s Test spot on Thursday. He didn’t take it, leaving more questions than answers, writes DANIEL CHERNY.
As far as comments about David Warner’s Test future go, this was particularly equivocal.
Given the opportunity on Thursday to declare that Warner was in Australia’s plans for the Ashes, which are a little over two months away, national selection chair George Bailey was happy to let one go outside off-stump.
Bailey was speaking to the media after the announcement of Cricket Australia’s 24-man national contract list for the 2023-24 season.
Marcus Harris’ addition in favour of Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft or Peter Handscomb was proof enough that the Victorian left-hander was the next man in at the top of the order this Winter. The question that needed answering though was whether he was mainly a reserve, or whether Warner’s position was genuinely under threat.
Asked about whether Warner’s inclusion in the extended contract list should be interpreted as evidence that he would be in the middle when the first Test begins at Edgbaston on June 16, Bailey made the special point of noting that the contract list took into account all three formats, and that Warner’s Test spot was therefore not sewn up.
“We’re three formats across all of those contracts,” Bailey said.
“I think Dave like any player is at the mercy of selection. 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.”
Warner is 36 and coming off a tour-ending elbow injury in India, where he had struggled at the top of the order in his brief involvements.
His struggles in England four years ago are well-documented, with Stuart Broad proving tormentor; Warner averaging just 9.5.
He hit back with a strong home summer in 2019-20 but his Test performances since have been largely middling, with the exception of his breathtaking double century in stifling heat at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in the summer just gone.
Warner is back fit and has started the Indian Premier League season brightly for the Delhi Capitals.
Bailey was asked to expand on recent comments from coach and fellow selector Andrew McDonald about the prospect that Warner could play against India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in early June and then be benched for an Ashes rematch with Broad and co.
Again, Bailey did little to douse speculation that Warner’s Test swan song could come against Rohit Sharma’s men rather than fighting to keep the urn.
“The point Andrew was making there was it’s a different team and a different way of playing, so I support Andrew’s comments on that around David,” Bailey said.
“Like any overseas tour it’s going to be very challenging. England are playing some incredible cricket so the team and the squad that we pick for that are going to need to be at their absolute best.”
The unusual nature of the tour means the WTC final – which should itself be something of a showpiece – also serves as an entree to the Ashes, whose historic significance needs no explanation.
Bailey explained that CA was planning on naming a squad to encompass both series.
“We’ll announce a broader squad for the World Test Championship and for the first two Ashes Tests,” Bailey said.
“We’re a couple of weeks from announcing that squad.”
The selectors have all but shown their batting hand with this contract list. It would now be a major shock if Harris is not in the squad for England, with Renshaw and Handscomb’s Indian cameos proving to be conditions-based calls.
“We certainly rate Harry’s ability in those (English, Australian and NZ) conditions,” Bailey said of Harris.
“That perhaps gives an indication of where we hold Harry.”
But if Warner’s record against England last time out is a concern, so too then must be that of Harris, who averaged 9.66 against the Old Enemy when he replaced Bancroft mid-series.
Harris is in England, playing for Gloucestershire. County runs are not Test runs, but they may provide the best guide as to whether the selectors are willing to pass the baton from one lefty to another at such a critical juncture. It would be a bold call to drop someone with 25 Test centuries for someone with an average of 25.
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