Australian selection chief says David Warner not needed after he made himself available for an ODI return

A social media shout out to selectors from retired great David Warner about a major ODI tournament next year earned a very clear response on Monday.

The door has been firmly shut on a sneaky possible international return for David Warner after the retired opener said he’d be available for next year’s Champions Trophy “ if selected”.

But selection chief George Bailey said Warner was the only player they had put a “line through” despite leaving out spinner Ashton Agar and 36-year-old keeper Matthew Wade from the squads for September’s tour of the UK having been members of the unsuccessful squad at the T20 World Cup

In a social media post last week freshly retired Warner thanked fans, his national teammates and staff but suggested he was “open” to a comeback if selectors came calling ahead of the next ODI tournament.

“I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for Aus in the Champions Trophy if selected,” he said.

But selection chief George Bailey closed the door on the Warner era on Monday as batting dynamo Jake Fraser- McGurk was picked in both T20 and ODI squads for a series of matches against Scotland and England.

David Warner and Virat Kohli after the Australian’s final T20 game at the World Cup. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

With a keen eye on that Champions Trophy, being held in Pakistan next year, Bailey said Warner , who played his final international match in the T20 World Cup,was no longer in their plans.

“Our understanding is that Davis is retired and should be commended on what was an incredible career across all three formats,” Bailey said.

“Certainly our planning is he won’t be there in Pakistan”.

But while Bailey said selectors had move on from Warner, he was less clear on the futures of Agar and Wade, who played with Warner at the T20 World Cup.

“It’s a changing of the guard for this series,” Bailey said.

“I don’t think there’s anyone that’s not there that we have put a line through permanently other than David, who has retired. I don’t think anyone else has formally retired.

“This is how we are going for this squad. If opportunities arise or there are gaps at a different point there’s nothing to day Wadey won’t come back.”