Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has slammed the door on any possible backwards move from former opener David Warner in hilarious fashion.
The Australians face a crucial five-Test series against India at home this summer, which will go a long way to deciding who finishes at the top of the Test Championship standings.
India won the last two series in Australia, leaving Pat Cummins and his men on high alert.
There are also places in the XI to be decided, with the position of opening the batting alongside Usman Khawaja being the most controversial.
Warner retired from all forms of international cricket earlier this year and Steven Smith has ruled out continuing at the top of the Australian order.
Which led Warner to make the surprising statement this week that he would return if Australians wanted him to.
“I’m always available, I just have to pick up the phone,” the 37-year-old told Code Sports.
‘I always speak very seriously. Let’s be honest, the boys have played a red-ball game since their last Test matches in February, so I’ve had almost the same preparation.
“Honestly, if they really needed me for this series, I’m more than happy to play the next Shield game and go out and play.”
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins couldn’t contain himself when asked about former opener David Warner’s bid to come out of retirement.
While Warner kept a straight face when he offered to return against India, many believe he was simply winding up old teammates.
The offer was quickly rejected by chairman of selectors George Bailey, and now Cummins has also had his say.
Speaking on The Grade Cricketer podcast, Cummins could barely suppress his laughter when he sarcastically said they were “very” interested in having Warner back in the fold.
‘Dave, we are very interested. “We are taking it very seriously and we will be in touch, friend,” he smiled.
‘I spoke to Dave a couple of days ago. I don’t remember if he came up or I… he said, ‘What do you think?’, and I said, ‘Yeah, good luck with (Sydney) Thunder and I’m looking forward to your comments on Fox.’
It remains uncertain whether Warner’s offer was genuine or a trap.
“I think the truth is somewhere in between,” Cummins said.
—I think it’s a little complicated, but I think he doesn’t mind seeing himself on the last page.
“We love Davey, but he’s retired.”
Former Australian Test cricket star Greg Blewett criticized Warner for his offer to come out of retirement against India.
Australian goalkeeper Alex Carey (right) said he “chuckled” at his former teammate Warner’s offer to the Test side.
While Cummins saw the humorous side of Warner’s offer, former Test star Greg Blewett attacked the retired star with both barrels.
‘I’ve never heard so much rubbish in my life. He’s self-absorbed,” Blewett said on Triple M.
‘In his last 23 Test matches for Australia he was average. It’s not like I’m doing race after race after race. He was playing mediocre cricket and that’s why he was retired.
Goalkeeper Alex Carey has also poured cold water on the prospect of Warner returning to battle for India.
“Seeing those comments, I kind of laughed a little…Look, I’d probably still do a great job, but I don’t think it’s a realistic opportunity,” he said. channel 7.
Instead, Carey backed his South Australian teammate Nathan McSweeney to fill the void.
The 25-year-old is currently captain of South Australia in the Sheffield Shield and recently showed extreme poise with a host of wins against a Queensland side led by Australian star Marnus Labuschagne.
“If that opportunity comes his way, he’ll certainly grab it with both hands,” Carey said of McSweeney.
“He works pretty hard on his game and he’s very close to Marnus and they’re not very different in the way they go about it.”
“Australia A is coming and there he will have another opportunity to move forward with his case.”
