"I've got the next 12 months" - Warner is not done with Test cricket

David Warner’s form in Test cricket hasn’t been great but the 36-year-old wants to keep playing all three formats till the end of next year, unless the selectors think otherwise. The left-hander has managed 607 runs at an average of 26.39 in 24 innings since 2022. 

Those numbers don’t look too bad but 200 of those 607 runs came in one innings (vs South Africa in December 2022). If you take out that knock, Warner is averaging just 18.5 in 23 innings.

Warner arrived back in Sydney on Thursday after fracturing his elbow during the second Test against India in Delhi. The opener, however, is part of the Australian squad for the three-match ODI series, which will get underway on March 17.

"I've always said I'm playing to 2024; if the selectors feel that I'm not worthy of my spot, then so be it, and I can push on to the white-ball stuff," Warner told reporters at Sydney Airport. 

"I've got the next 12 months, a lot of cricket's ahead for the team and if I can keep scoring runs and putting my best foot forward for the team and I can help my spot, it'd be great for the team.

"It's easy pickings (for critics) when you're 36 going on 37. I've seen it before with the ex-players as well. So for me if I'm taking pressure off the rest of the other guys, and no one's worrying about the rest of the team, I'm happy to do that."

When Australia selector Tony Dodemaide was asked about Warner’s future considering there is also an Ashes series to be played this year, the 59-year-old refused to give a straight answer.

"We're worried about what we can get out of these remaining two Tests (in India), obviously that's a clear focus for us at the moment," Dodemaide said on Wednesday.

"We'll address the Ashes planning (at a later time), but we are committed to picking the best fit and available players for Test series, particularly something as big as the Ashes.

"That's not a question that we've addressed so far. We are very keen, as everyone I'm sure at home would be, for us to get something out of this remaining series."

Australia are already 2-0 behind in the ongoing four-match Test series against India, with the likes of Warner and Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the series. The third Test will be played in Indore from March 1.