Dreading the breakup of his opening partnership with Chris Rogers, David Warner hopes selectors next look to the future.
Rogers and Warner’s partnerships have tallied 1994 runs, making them Australia’s fourth most productive Test opening pair.
Rogers is yet to confirm his retirement, but the expectation is the fifth Ashes Test will be his swansong.
Finding a replacement for the 37-year-old, the side’s leading run-scorer in the Ashes, will be among selectors’ top priorities.
Warner threw up Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns and Cameron Bancroft as three contenders.
“Uzzie and Joe have been around the international circuit … so hopefully they get another go,” Warner said.
“There are a few names that are going to be brought up.
“You heard Ricky Ponting mention the other day – Usman Khawaja, Bancroft scored a great hundred the other day in Indian conditions.”
Warner’s yin-and-yang pairing with Rogers has been one of the side’s success stories in recent years, the pugnacious and patient approaches complementing each other.
Warner all but confirmed Rogers was set to call it quits after the clash at the Oval, which starts on August 20.
“He leaves this international game and I hope he goes another year or two either in county cricket or back home,” he said, pointing to Rogers’ 73 first-class tons.
“It’s an amazing achievement by anyone and I don’t think he gets as much credit as he deserves.
“We’ve come a long way and we’ve shared a great bond together out in the middle. I’ve loved every single minute batting together out there.”
There’s likely to be a couple of baggy greens handed out during the tour of Bangladesh in October, with the side in a state of flux.
Warner and Steve Smith are the only batsmen to command a place in the XI as it stands.
The 28-year-old suggested Australia A’s recent success in India filled him with confidence about the next generation.
“You’re either ready or you’re not,” Warner said.
“Those players have been prepped.
“They’ve been in and around the environment before. It’s going to be exciting.”
Chris Rogers’ likely replacements at the top of the order
Usman Khawaja
A serious knee injury ruined his hopes of playing in the Ashes, but expected to add to his nine Tests in October. Opened the batting and captained Australia A in recent first-class games, suggesting he may be the frontrunner.
Joe Burns
Was a touch unlucky to miss out on a berth in the Ashes squad, having played Tests at the MCG and SCG last summer. Was used at No.6 in those games, but more comfortable opening the batting for Queensland.
Cameron Bancroft
Batted for over 13 hours to score 211 against NSW during the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield season. Selectors don’t have a like-for-like replacement for Rogers, but the would-be debutant’s caution could work well with Warner.
Andrew
Guest
Khawaja to open, and Bancroft at 5 to allow him time to settle
Andrew
Guest
Chris under Arthur Khawaja for stuffed around and at most got 2 tests in a row, of he gets a full series he will show his class so I would open with him, there is a reason Ponting nominated him as his number 1 Pick to come in
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I agree. It's just stupid to even answer these questions.
Bovs
Guest
I agree, and there's two options to include the second spinner. 1) Warner; Burns; Smith; Khawaja; SMarsh/Voges/Ferguson; MMarsh; Nevill; Starc; O'Keefe; Hazlewood; Lyon 2) Warner; Burns; Smith; Khawaja; SMarsh/Voges/Ferguson; Nevill; Agar; Johnson; Starc; Hazlewood; Lyon
Jameswm
Guest
I agree - I think Warner's on the money.
bert
Guest
Good nominations by Davey bring them all in. Bancroft to open Burns at 3 Khawaja at 5.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think that no matter how erratic Starc has been, he's clearly been more effective than Johnson and will just continue to get better. If you only go with one of them it's got to be Starc. I also don't know about Khawaja at 3. Smith isn't going to drop down. He'll establish himself at #3 and be there for a long time, and Uzzie really looked like he felt the pressure at previous stints in the national team and didn't play with anywhere near the freedom he shows at state level. I think having him down the order a bit might be better for him too. I'd probably be putting Burns 4, Khawaja 5. Agree with Targa that they'd likely want the extra spinner in Bangladesh. So probably Starc and Hazlewood as the quicks with Ahmed or O'Keefe to come in as the second spinner. I'd almost be tempted to go with O'Keefe in that bowling lineup. I feel he has more chance to keep it tight, which they could probably do with.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Also remember, as is often the case, someone is writing a story in which they are including a few choice quotes from David Warner. We don't have the transcript in full, know what questions were asked, whether the person asking the questions might have even mentioned these names and he was just commenting on them etc. It's all very out of context. I tried a couple of Google searches to see if I could find another source of this that might include more details about what he actually said, and this story here on the roar is the only one that came up referencing these comments at all. So, knowing how reporters like to pick and choose little bits of what people say and insert them into their stories and so often misrepresent what was actually said, with no way to verify everything that was actually said and asked, it's a bit tough to jump on Warner about saying inappropriate things. Hey, if all the cricketers were just "no comment" all the time, they'd be slammed for that too! People want to hear their thoughts on things. If they didn't there would be zero comments on this story as nobody would have bothered to read it!
Peter
Roar Rookie
Oh FFS why not. It's better than blathering about skill sets and goals.
Targa
Guest
You need another spinner in Bangladesh - either Maxwell in the top 6 or a specialist. Otherwise the 2 best batsmen (Smith & Warner) will be doing a lot of bowling.
jamesb
Guest
Warner is the 'go to' man for the media, because the media know he will say something controversial. Talks before he thinks. He also has a regular spot as a cricket correspondent on breakfast radio. The brwakfast radio show is using him for controversial comments. Unfortunately, Warner hasn't figured that out yet it.
Disco
Guest
'That's not for me to say.' Simple.
Disco
Guest
Warner needs to work on his *shot* selection before he starts choosing the side. Who's handling media on this tour? Because the players have sure come out with some ill-judged responses.
jamesb
Guest
If Rogers does the pull the pin, (has to make it official), then here is my team for Bangladesh. Warner Bancroft Khawaja Smith Burns M.Marsh P.Nevill M.Johnson/M.Starc Sandhu Hazlewood Lyon It is a gamble putting Bancroft in, after only two first class Shield seasons. Would have preferred for Rogers to play on and Bancroft plying his trade in the SS.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It is inappropriate for him to comment on the make up of the team no mater how innocently when he is not even part of the leadership. What happens if Ed Cowen or Shaun Marsh get picked to open with him, these comments will come back on him and that in the end affects the team. Warner still hasn't learned to just keep his mouth shut.
Gordon Smith
Guest
I got the irony Birdy :)
Gordon Smith
Guest
"He was asked a question so he answered it" is hardly justification for a non selector current player to nominate his pick. I agree with Toy. Chris suggests he was being diplomatic and I suggest Rellum understands diplomacy (with all due respects) better than Chris.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
What on earth are you talking about? As pointed out in the story, along with Smith, Warner is pretty much the only top 6 batsman guaranteed to be in the team come the next test series. Though, Mitch Marsh is probably pretty close to guaranteed that #6 spot. In what way is he "self-selected"?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
David Warner's never been reticent to answer a question, and I don't know there's any great problem here. What it shows is he's keeping an eye on how other players are going outside of the teams he's playing in, which is good. And from his actual responses he looks to have been pretty diplomatic, mentioning some names that have been thrown up by others and people who seem to be performing well at the moment without actually saying who he would choose or anything like that.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It was a reasonable question in which his answer should have been " thats a question for the selectors, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on that".