"Lot of it got taken out of context" - David Warner on claiming he is available for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
Retired Australian cricketer David Warner has clarified that his comments on 'being available' were taken out of context. The former left-handed batter said he would come out of retirement only if he got a call.
While speaking to the News Corp last month, the New South Wales cricketer shockingly said he was available to play in the Test series against India if the selectors wanted him to. However, both Australia's chief selector and head coach Andrew McDonald haven't considered the idea of bringing him back.
Speaking on Fox Cricket's coverage of the first ODI between Australia and Pakistan, Warner said all he meant was that he was unlikely to say no if the selectors gave him a call.
"My comment was only if my phone rang and they called me and if they asked, you're not going to say no. You're not going to turn down a game for Australia. I think a lot of it got taken out of context by some people but it is what it is. If I was to get a call, why wouldn't I say yes?" he said.
After Warner's retirement, Australia opened with Steve Smith, who did so against the West Indies and New Zealand. However, the veteran will move back to No. 4 after not finding much success in the role.
"They haven’t put the numbers on the board" - David Warner on Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft
With the likes of Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft among those vying for an opener's spot, Warner believes both have technical flaws. The southpaw reckons Bancroft will be discovered by players who move the ball faster in the air.
He stated (via the aforementioned interview):
"We know what Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft bring to the table. They have been around. Unfortunately, they haven’t put the numbers on the board. With both, I think they are still making the same mistakes. There is no air speed at the moment in Shield cricket and, unfortunately, you are playing at venues as well that don’t bounce."
"With Cameron Bancroft, his foot is still out to point. If someone is bowling 140, 145km/h, he is still going to make the same mistakes. In my eyes, it’s about his front foot being pointed out to point, and when there is faster air speed, so the bowlers are bowling faster, he is going to get rolled through LBW or get caught in the slips cordon. And he had that trouble when playing for Australia," he added.
The first Test between India and Australia begins on November 22.