David Warner reveals pick to replace him amid plea for ‘risky’ Aussie call

Australian opener David Warner has anointed the batsman best placed to serve as his replacement at the top of the batting order.

Australian opener David Warner has anointed Victorian Marcus Harris as the batsman best placed to serve as his replacement for the Test series against the West Indies next month.

Warner, who fell for 38 as Australia reached 3-187 on a challenging start to the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne, will finish his decorated red ball career at the SCG in a fortnight.

Harris, who scored a century against Pakistan in a trial game in Melbourne last weekend, and fellow former Test openers Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw are considered leading candidates to replace Warner.

All-rounder Cameron Green, who is Melbourne with the national squad, is another option should the Australian selectors decide to reshuffle the batting order.

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But Warner believes Harris, who has played 14 Tests and was a member of the Ashes squad which retained the Urn in the United Kingdom earlier this year, has strong claims to the spot he is about to vacate.

“It is a tough one (and) it is obviously up to the selectors,” he said.

“But from my position, I feel like the person who has worked their backside off and has been there for a while in the background (is Harris). Harry’s been that person who has toured (and) he scored that 100 the other day and missed out in another couple of games but he’s always been the person who’s next in line.

“So if the selectors show their faith in him, then I’m sure he’ll come out and play the way he does. You know, he’s not too dissimilar to me.”

Marcus Harris has David Warner’s backing. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

When speaking to Fox Cricket earlier in the day, the 37-year-old said selectors should opt for an aggressive player as a long-term solution.

He said on Tuesday night Harris, who scored his century against Pakistan at nearly one run per ball, is a player capable of scoring rapidly and playing his shots.

But Warner also said selectors should keep an eye on emerging talent in the Big Bash League, noting the gamble they took on him in his youth reaped dividends.

The 37-year-old was selected to represent Australia in a T20 match at the MCG in January, 2009, despite never having played a 1st class match at that stage of his career.

“I have always played the way that I have to entertain and to put bums on seats. I think that is important, giving back and making sure the fans are getting what they paid for,” he said.

“I think it is important and I think the selectors will continue to do this. We’ve got players like Travis Head, you’ve got Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green, guys who actually like going after the ball.

“How are we going to find these guys coming through? You’re going to find them in the Big Bash. It’s going to be a gutsy call to put someone out there in the middle, a bit like what they did with me, and experiment.

“I just hope that when they do, that person gets their chance, that they are given a good crack and it doesn’t chop and change.”

Warner, meanwhile, said his opening partner Usman Khawaja was fielding the focus surrounding his ongoing saga with the ICC with distinction.

Warner wants Harris at the top of the order. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Khawaja, who scored 42 on the opening day of the Test, batted with the names of his children on his shoes after the ICC banned him from placing a symbol of a dove on his bat.

He previously drew the wrath of the ICC in Perth for a clothing and batting regulation breach for wearing a black armband without permission during the opening Test.

Khawaja had previously trained in shoes at the WACA Ground with the message “All Lives Matter” emblazoned on them, but was denied permission to wear them in the Perth Test.

Warner said Khawaja was simply standing up for what he believed was right.

“I just think that’s always been him. Uzi has always been the type of person who is always saying how it is,” Warner said.

“Uzzie has always been a leader around the group, even in New South Wales when we were young. He was always that guy who was always putting his hand up to help, especially with his community stuff. The community stuff is outstanding.

“The work that goes on behind the scenes that he does for his community and his foundation is outstanding. And that is the person he is. He has got a lot of respect from a lot of people.”

Originally published as David Warner reveals pick to replace him amid plea for ‘risky’ Aussie call