Australian coach Andrew McDonald believes David Warner is arguably the nation’s most accomplished all-format cricketer and almost impossible to replace in the Test arena.
The 37-year-old will play his final Test for Australia in the SCG Test beginning January 3 but will continue to be a headline act given his appeal to country and clubs in short-form cricket.
“He is probably our greatest ever three-format player,” McDonald said.
“He’ll be a loss. Other people have been gunning for him for a period of time but for us, internally, we’ve seen the great value and what he brings to the table, hence why we’ve kept picking him. He repaid that faith in the first Test match.
“It can be hard to replace someone who is striking at 70, averaging 45 (and has made the) most ever runs as an Australian opener.”
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The Australian selection committee featuring McDonald, George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide are meeting in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon with a view to the future.
The SCG Test which winds up the Pakistan series is four days away but McDonald hinted it was unlikely there would be any changes to the XI to feature in the first two matches.
McDonald said it remains undecided who will replace Warner for the two Test series against the West Indies beginning midway through January but confirmed it is a four-man race.
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Not surprisingly, those four names are Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Green.
All have played for Australia before and have claims to regain their spot in the side, with selectors hoping to be able to field a settled team for series against New Zealand and later India in 2024.
“I think we can start … discussing that, definitely, and forecasting what that might look like. There is no doubt about that. It is all going to come pretty quickly,” McDonald said.
“There are a few options. Everyone is well aware of the options. We will put a deadline on that and that’ll be the West Indies selection meeting. All options will be considered.”
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There is intrigue surrounding Warner’s initial availability for Australia with a view to the ODI and T20 matches against the West Indies after the Test series in January.
The left-hander features heavily in promotions for a T20 tournament to be held in the Middle East in February and McDonald expects he will ask for permission to skip national duties.
But he remains particularly keen to play for Australia in the T20 World Cup in June hosted by the West Indies and USA and is also eyeing off the next ODI World Cup in 2027.
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With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, McDonald said Australians heading to the Indian Premier League to play in March and April have the blessing of national selectors.
He said discussions in regards to opportunities for players including Warner, who is signed with the Dubai Capitals, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
“(The schedule) is getting more cramped. It is tough. It is difficult,” he said.
“I think it comes down to each individual case, where the player is within their career and the appetite from each individual state to allow that to happen. I think every case should be considered individually.”
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