Pat Cummins ice-cold reply on ‘dumping’ David Warner

Australia faces several major selection calls ahead of the Fourth Test – none bigger than the future of its veteran opening batsman.

Pat Cummins has changed his tune on David Warner's future. Pictures: Getty

David Warner’s career appears to be on the line after Australia’s defeat in the Third Ashes Test prompted an unexpected comment from Pat Cummins.

The Aussie skipper played a straight bat during the post-match presentations when he was asked about his opening batsman’s double failure against Stuart Broad.

Cummins quickly referred to Warner’s half century and “fantastic” performance in the Second Test at Lord’s, saying he was “really happy with how everyone’s going”.

But a few minutes later in his press conference, Cummins delivered a change of tune that will have Warner wondering if his days are numbered.

Australia faces a number of huge selection calls with Cameron Green and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood already declared fit for the Fourth Test in Manchester in nine days.

Century-maker Mitch Marsh has created an unexpected headache by delivering way above expectations with bat and ball – leading one journalist to ask Cummins what he thought about “keeping Mitch and dumping David”.

After earlier being supportive, Cummins was suddenly ice-cold. “You keep all options open,” he said.

What made the response even more telling was how Cummins replied when asked if it was possible Marsh could be dropped for Green. “It’s possible but it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?” he said.

That shoulder might be getting a pat on it in the next week. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Keeping both all-rounders is probably the move that would excite Aussie cricket fans the most, although Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are former Test openers and in the squad in England.

Warner’s survival or otherwise looms as the biggest call because any other changes to Australia’s XI seem a little more straight forward.

Cummins said he expects spinner Todd Murphy to feature more prominently in the Fourth Test after being asked to bowl less than 10 overs across two innings at Headingley.

“It didn’t quite spin as much as we thought it would and we didn’t bowl as many overs as we thought we would – we bowled under 60 both innings,” he said.

“Would have liked to get Toddy into the game a bit more but I’m sure Manchester will be more spin-friendly.”

So if the Aussies are determined to play a spinner and not, for example, follow England’s lead by matching the inclusion of Chris Woakes with a seamer who can bat like Michael Neser,

that would only leave the fast bowlers to consider.

Cummins said he personally feels “great, better than I would have hoped” as he stays on track to play the entire series.

Mitchell Starc is a straightforward pick too after, in Cummins’ words, a “top-class” display in England’s second innings.

But it would be staggering if Scott Boland held his spot after two wickets in two matches and with Hazlewood ready to return that appears a simple swap.

Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes both have decisions to make. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Despite finally breaking through for a win, England has just as many, if not more, headaches.

The hosts have a gaping hole at first drop, an all-rounder in Ben Stokes who can’t bowl and a wicketkeeper in Jonny Bairstow that seems bereft of confidence with the gloves and the bat.

There is also Ollie Robinson’s fitness concerns – although resting him for a Test might help England avoid having to retire a legend of its own.

Like Marsh, Third Test inclusions Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have made themselves impossible to drop and Stuart Broad remains England’s best bowler.

So Robinson being unavailable suddenly seems crucial to Jimmy Anderson reclaiming a place in the side for his home Test.