<\/p>\n
David Warner has been given a Test lifeline after the opener was included in Australia\u2019s 17-man squad for the World Test Championship final and the first two Ashes Tests later this year.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old will be given a chance to rediscover his faltering form in the one-off match against India at the Oval in June but his place in the team for the series against England that follows remains uncertain after selectors kept their options open with the inclusion of back-up batters Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw.<\/p>\n Having been ruled out of this year\u2019s tour of India with a fractured elbow, and with just one century in his past 32 innings \u2013 and a forgettable 2019 Ashes series when he averaged 9.5 with the bat \u2013 there had been uncertainty over Warner\u2019s immediate Test future.<\/p>\n His inclusion in the squad announced on Wednesday presents an opportunity to tour the UK for a final time, having previously hinted he will retire from red-ball cricket after the 2023 Ashes series, but his form in the opening match of the tour will likely determine whether he gets the nod to play against England.<\/p>\n Chief selector George Bailey confirmed Warner would open the batting against India in the match starting on 7 June, but he would not commit beyond that.<\/p>\n \u201cNot specifically to Dave, but we\u2019ll just get through that Test Championship,\u201d Bailey said. \u201cWe\u2019ll be planning behind the scenes but we\u2019ll have a look at what that looks like as we get there. Different opposition and different surface in terms of going from the Oval to start the Ashes. So we\u2019ll work through that.\u201d<\/p>\n Harris was recalled along with Josh Inglis and Mitchell Marsh, but Cameron Bancroft \u2013 the top run scorer in last season\u2019s Sheffield Shield \u2013 was overlooked. Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann were not retained from the squad which toured India, while Lance Morris has been ruled out of the squad with injury.<\/p>\n Bailey said the preference was to take a settled team into the WTC final. \u201cThe way we are looking at that is it\u2019s a culmination of what\u2019s been a pretty consistent two years,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty similar team for a long period of time. We are confident that\u2019s a team and that\u2019s a makeup that can have success.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UK is a very different assignment from our most recent tour of India and some of the changes are based upon the conditions we are anticipating. Marcus, Josh and Mitch return to the squad and provide valuable depth and flexibility within their respective skillsets.\u201d<\/p>\n