“Certainly our planning is he won’t be there in Pakistan” - Australia chief selector rules out a potential return for David Warner in 2025 CT 

Australia chief selector George Bailey asserted that David Warner is not in the plans for the 2025 Champions Trophy squad. The veteran batter, who retired from international cricket after the culmination of the 2024 T20 World Cup, hinted recently that he will be willing to make a one-off comeback for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“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,” Warner had said after Australia's exit from 2024 T20 World Cup.

Warner's last ODI appearance came during the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The left-handed batter ended his Test career shortly after that, through a home farewell Test in Sydney against Pakistan.

Since Warner departed from the 50-over format, Australia have fast-tracked Jake Fraser-McGurk into the white-ball setup. In the three-match ODI series against the West Indies that followed the World Cup triumph, Australia used Travis Head, Jake Fraser-Mcgurk, and Josh Inglis for the opening role.

Now, with Australia set to tour England and Scotland for a white-ball series, there is some clarity as to which direction the team is heading. In the squad that was named by Cricket Australia on Monday, July 15, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Travis Head emerge as the candidates to open the innings in white-ball cricket.

“Our understanding is that Davey is retired and should be commended on what was an incredible career across all three formats. Certainly our planning is he won’t be there in Pakistan," Bailey said of Warner via Yahoo Sport.

“It’s a changing of the guard for this series. 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," Bailey added.

Australia's tour of England and Scotland is scheduled to begin from September 4. The tour comprises a three-match T20I series against Scotland, followed by three T20Is and five ODIs against England.

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David Warner had unofficially passed the baton to Jake Fraser-McGurk through a social media post

David Warner shared a story on Instagram of him and Jake Fraser-McGurk sharing a drink in the Caribbean after Australia's exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The caption of the post read "All yours now, champion."

Despite a solid showing in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) and a breezy start in international colors, Fraser-McGurk was overlooked for the World Cup, and had to settle for a spot among the travelling reserves. Now with Warner out of the equation, the path opens up for the youngster to cement his place in the white-ball playing XI, starting with the upcoming tour in September.