Australia Test squad vs Pakistan: David Warner tipped to survive axe after weeks of speculation

As Australia prepares to unveil its squad to face Pakistan — with David Warner included — it can be revealed teammates had been bracing for fallout from the opener being axed.

David Warner is expected to survive the cut when Australia’s squad for the first Test is named on Sunday, as next-generation quick Lance Morris storms into the frame for a baggy green this summer.

After weeks of prevaricating about whether Warner would hang on for his long-forecast farewell tour, selectors are widely tipped to provide the green light for the veteran to face his bunny side Pakistan when the home summer begins on December 14 at Perth’s Optus Stadium, paving the way for the left-hander to finish his Test career at the SCG in early January.

Warner has just one Test century in almost four years, and averaged 28.5 during this year’s Ashes, although he did finish that series with a commanding half-century as Australia fell short at The Oval in late July.

David Warner is set to be given his shot at a Test farewell tour. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

As recently as this week, Australian players had been bracing for the fallout of Warner’s potential omission.

But the patchy recent form of opening chasing pack Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw has undoubtedly helped Warner’s cause. After modest returns for Australia A against New Zealand A before the Aussie domestic season, Bancroft reached Sheffield Shield’s mid-season break as the competition’s leading run scorer but having missed selection on the Ashes tour this year also had the most ground to overcome to dislodge Warner.

Cameron Green’s 96 at No. 4 on return for Western Australia against Queensland during the week has given selectors extra food for thought about the prospect of pairing Green and fellow WA all-rounder Mitch Marsh in the same XI once Warner makes way.

Lance Morris is in the frame to debut this summer. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The advent of concussion substitutes in recent years means Australia has tended to pick at least one spare batter and bowler in its Test squads. Green, who has does not have a Big Bash League contract, is therefore a logical choice given his versatility, form and selectors’ keenness not to let him rot outside the XI for too long after losing his spot during the Ashes.

On the back of a World Test Championship title and having retained the urn, much of Australia’s squad picks itself.

Frontline pace trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are clear selections, while Nathan Lyon is fit to return from his calf injury, pushing out Todd Murphy from the side that lost at The Oval.

While Scott Boland is still clearly in the picture despite his Ashes challenges, WA firebrand Morris looks likely to leapfrog Michael Neser after missing the Ashes tour following back stress concerns.

The rapid Morris has been carefully managed throughout the first half of the domestic season with an eye to his involvement across Australia’s seven upcoming Tests (three at home to Pakistan, two at home to the West Indies and two away in New Zealand) inside three months, with sources close to the team expecting Morris to be included in the squad to start the summer.

Boland and Morris were both rested for the most recent round of the Sheffield Shield, while perennial understudy Neser will join Murphy, Green, Renshaw, Harris and Bancroft in the Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan in Canberra starting on Thursday.

Alex Carey remains ahead of Josh Inglis in the Test pecking order despite the former’s poor finish to the Ashes and Inglis’ supplanting of Carey in the Aussie one-day side.

Expected squad: Pat Cummins (captain), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Lance Morris.

Originally published as Australia Test squad vs Pakistan: David Warner tipped to survive axe after weeks of speculation