David Warner’s hopes of returning from IPL exile good news for Australia

David Warner was dropped from the first half of the IPL, but is a chance to return for its second half which begins Monday.

David Warner is set to earn a selection reprieve for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Things are looking better for David Warner and Australia’s T20 World Cup preparations. Dropped as a player, axed as a captain and destined to earn his IPL millions sitting on the bench during the first phase of the tournament, his stocks may appear to have risen as the stars reassemble.

Back in May the IPL came to a screeching halt amid the humanitarian disaster unfolding around it.

Attempts to hold a nationwide tournament in a pandemic saw players and coaches infected. Michael Hussey was flown to Chennai in a biosecure pod which some compared to a body bag.

The rest of the Australians were evacuated in full PPE gear but found themselves locked out of their own country and stranded on an island where things, at times, got a little Lord of the Flies.

Warner and Michael Slater denied there was anything to reports of a stoush, but if there had been it added to the desolate circumstances as stranded broadcasters, coaches, players and medical staff were woken by falling Chinese satellites and threatened by a typhoon.

Warner and most of the entourage are back to finish what they started, but not in India nor the Maldives. This time organisers are playing it safe and have moved the remaining games to the UAE.

Something went wrong at the front half of the tournament for Warner who has been the face and backbone of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise. He couldn’t find touch and neither could the team. His eventual axing caused tensions with Sunrisers’ director for cricket Tom Moody and he looked sure to sit out the second half.

The recent decision by Jonny Bairstow to not return after the England summer, however, opens the door for the Australian all-format opener to come back into the team.

Indian commentator Aakash Chopra believes it will happen.

“It will now be certain that David Warner will play because a time had come when you were not going with him. Kane Williamson, the captain, and along with him Jonny Bairstow. Jason Holder, Rashid Khan – they had plenty of options to play with. So, that makes their job a little easier and not difficult at all,” the former Indian player said on his YouTube channel.

That is good news for Australia who embarked on a tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh hoping to broaden the potential pool of players ahead of October’s World Cup, but mostly just confirmed what they already knew.

Warner, like Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson were all absent from the national tour which first battled a match hardened West Indies outfit and then struggled on Bangladesh wickets that were barely fit for purpose.

Smith missed those outings because of an elbow injury, but has recovered and was one of the first to make the trip across to the UAE so he could serve his six-day quarantine and get out into the nets.

Cummins is skipping the IPL to be at the birth of his first child, but his bowling partner Josh Hazlewood is returning to be with Chennai Super Kings who will hopefully give him more opportunity.

Hazlewood did not attend the first half of the tournament and it was not clear if he could return.

“The BCCI has confirmed players who were not available in the first phase can join the respective teams in the second phase if they are fit and available,” a spokesperson said recently. “Considering Hazlewood’s form, he will be a great addition to our team.”

Nathan Ellis got a chance to play a couple of games in Bangladesh and made an impression by taking a hat trick on debut.

There are reports three IPL franchises sought his signature as a replacement player in recent times but it was Punjab Kings who signed him up as they will be without Riley Meredith and Richardson.

The IPL returns Monday.