David Warner lashed by ex-Test selector for anointing his own replacement

Former Australian cricket selector Jamie Cox has slammed David Warner for having the audacity to name the player who should replace him in the Test side after he calls time on his career following the Sydney Test. Speaking after play on the opening day of the second Test at the MCG, Warner publicly endorsed Marcus Harris, saying he believes he should be the man who takes over from him.

The 31-year-old was part of the recent Ashes squad and boosted his hopes of a recall with a century in a tour game for Victoria against Pakistan last week. Warner says he has done enough to earn the spot over the likes of Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw, who are seemingly locked in a selection battle with Harris ahead of a two-Test series against the West Indies in January.

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"It's a tough one and it's obviously up to the selectors 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)," Warner told reporters. "Harry's been there, he's toured ... he's always been that person who was next in line.

"If the selectors show their faith in him then I'm sure that he'll come out and play the way he does. He's not too dissimilar to me; if he sees it in his areas he goes for it and plays his shots. I think he would fit well."

Warner's comments drew an angry response from Cox, who was on Australia's Test selection panel from 2006 to 2011. "Well bugger me - another modern first!" Cox wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"I have never heard of a current player anointing their successor. What's wrong with 'that's a question for George Bailey not me'? I need a lie down …!"

Pat Cummins refuses to speculate who should replace David Warner

When asked about who deserves the spot at the top of the order once David Warner retires, Australian captain Pat Cummins refused to speculate on his possible replacement. "I am not a selector. I obviously speak to them, but we'll work that out after the Sydney Test," Cummins said.

"My honest answer is I haven't really been part of any conversation. I think everyone just knows we've got a bit of time."

Some have also suggested that Mitch Marsh or Cameron Green could open the batting after Green was replaced in the side by Marsh during the Ashes earlier this year. Green is the most recent batter to be dropped from the Aussie XI and has a significantly better Test average than Harris, Renshaw and Bancroft.

Mike Hussey warns against picking Mitch Marsh or Cam Green as opener

Mike Hussey, however, believes that selecting Marsh or Green to open would be a mistake. "Opening is one of the toughest jobs in the game," he told reporters after it was confirmed he would be inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

"So for me personally, if I was selecting, I'd be going for a traditional, proper opener - someone who's done it for a long period of time because if you haven't done it much in your first-class career it's going to be very difficult to come up the order. I'm not saying you can't do it, and maybe someone could evolve into doing that role, but I think it would be difficult for a player like Mitch Marsh.

"I know there's been talk about him going up the order, I think he's probably more suited, much like Travis [Head], to be in the middle order. I think that'd be the best for the balance of the Australian team."

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