3 players who could replace David Warner as opener in Australia's ODI team ft. Jake Fraser-McGurk

On the eve of his farewell Test for Australia against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, David Warner announced that he's retiring from ODIs as well.

Warner played an integral hand in the Aussies' charge to their sixth World Cup title in 2023, tallying 535 runs in 11 games. He has been one of the country's most consistent openers in white-ball cricket over the last decade and will go down as one of the greats.

Warner didn't exactly shut the door on his ODI future, claiming that he will consider returning for the 2025 Champions Trophy if he's in form and the team want him back. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that in the immediate future, at least, the Kangaroos need to look for replacements at the top of the order.

Here are three players who could replace David Warner as the opener in Australia's ODI team.

Honorable Mention: Mitchell Marsh

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#3 Jake Fraser-McGurk

Jake Fraser-McGurk is a seriously exciting talent.

Jake Fraser-McGurk is only 21 but is a well-known name in Australian cricketing circles. Widely regarded as one of the most exciting batting talents the country has produced recently, he has been making waves in all three formats over the last year.

Fraser-McGurk made headlines with a 29-ball century in the Marsh One-Day Cup, the fastest List A hundred in history. In the ongoing edition of the domestic 50-over competition, he has tallied 171 runs in three games at an average of 57.00.

Fraser-McGurk has also been a dynamic presence for the Melbourne Renegades in the ongoing Big Bash League, with two half-centuries and plenty of huge sixes. Proficient on both sides of the wicket, the youngster, with his fearlessness and shot-making ability, has stood out.

It might be early days in Fraser-McGurk's career, but Australia could use an explosive opener at the top of the order to keep up with the demands of the modern game.

The 21-year-old might not succeed immediately, but given his obvious ability and learnability, it won't be long before he makes the step up.

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#2 Matthew Short

Matthew Short has been a consistent performer in the Marsh One-Day Cup

Matthew Short is a name that might not immediately pop up when thinking about potential replacements for Warner, but it's one that has a lot of merit.

Short has been in and around the ODI side for a while now and was in line to make the 2023 World Cup squad. The 28-year-old has played just two ODIs, and his List A record isn't too impressive either. However, recently, he has made significant strides in his game.

In the last edition of the Marsh One-Day Cup, Short managed 301 runs in seven games at an average of 60.2 and a strike rate of 104.51. In the ongoing campaign, he has had 215 runs in two innings, getting dismissed just once.

Short has also been a consistent performer for the Adelaide Strikers, who he captains in the BBL. He has been reliable with both bat and ball, with his off-spin proving useful on plenty of occasions.

Short could be a balanced option to replace Warner, as a player who has married consistency with attacking gears recently.

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#1 Cameron Green

Cameron Green is yet to find his ideal role in ODI cricket.

Cameron Green is one of world cricket's most exciting all-rounders but has struggled to break into the first-choice Australian side lately. He didn't play an integral role in the World Cup win despite featuring in a few games, with the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis donning the pace-bowling all-rounder's role.

Green's place in the ODI team isn't clear as of now, but Warner's departure could open up a spot for him alongside Travis Head at the top. There's no reason why the 24-year-old can't succeed as an opener in the 50-over format, as he's an excellent player of pace and swing and has all the shots in the book.

Green's utilization in the middle order hasn't gone to plan, and Australia could enjoy having another explosive top-order batter who can contribute a few overs as well.

He has a long career ahead of him, and the six-time World Cup champions won't need to worry about his role for the foreseeable future.