Australia opener David Warner is in the frame for the World Test Championship final against India but selectors’ boss George Bailey declined to back him as an automatic inclusion for the Ashes squad.
Selectors will pick a wider squad in about two weeks for the WTC decider at The Oval from June 7-11 and for the first two tests of the Ashes series, which starts on June 16 in Birmingham.
Apart from a defiant 200 against South Africa in December, lefthander Warner has struggled for runs in recent tests, making a total of 26 in three innings in the recent tour of India before returning home injured.
“I think Dave, like any player is, is at the mercy of selection,” Bailey told reporters.
“The Ashes is a huge series and we’ll be looking to pick our best team. We’re going to have to have our best team playing incredibly well to challenge England over there, the way they’re playing at the moment.”
“I think there’s a number of differences (between the teams). But we’re a couple of weeks away from announcing that squad.”
