David Warner's desire for a Test farewell at his home in Sydney is about to come true, as he has been included in the Test squad for the first match of Australia's upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan. The series is scheduled to begin at Perth Stadium on December 14, followed by the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year's Test in Sydney.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey announced a strong squad for the series opener, with Pat Cummins named as the captain on December 3. The 14-man squad includes the inclusion of fast bowler Lance Morris. Despite facing competition from Mitchell Marsh, all-rounder Cameron Green maintains his position in the team.
There were uncertainties surrounding Warner's selection for the first Test against Pakistan, but the Australian selection committee appears to be favouring the veteran opener, particularly following his standout performances in the ODI World Cup in India.
The spotlight will also be on the tour game between Prime Minister's XI and Pakistan in Canberra on December 6. This match will feature players like Cameron Bancroft, who is contending for Warner's position as the opener exits the format, along with Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, and Matthew Renshaw.
Australia welcomed the return of off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who takes the place of Todd Murphy in the squad. Lyon has recovered from an injury that sidelined him for a significant part of the Ashes campaign earlier in 2023.
Australia squad for 1st Test vs Pakistan
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.
Warner had expressed a wish to bid farewell to Test cricket with a final appearance at the beloved Sydney Cricket Ground.
However, despite his past achievements, Warner's recent performances in the longest format have shown a noticeable decline. His once commanding presence at the crease has been marred by inconsistency and a dip in numbers. Over the last two to three years, Warner's Test performance has diminished, with an average of 26.48 in England and an even more modest 21.78 in India. This is a stark departure from the aggressive opener who once dominated bowlers worldwide.
Warner's most recent Test century ended a prolonged drought, with a double century against South Africa in December 2023, marking his first ton since January 2020. While this achievement also took him past 8000 Test runs, it stands as an isolated peak in a period characterised by a struggle to meet the high standards he set earlier in his career.
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