MELBOURNE: Even with the 36-year-old's modest record in the subcontinent and his current struggle for runs, head coach Andrew McDonald stated that David Warner is still a part of Australia's plans for the tour of India next year.
From his eight Tests in India, the left-handed opener has an average of 24.25, well below his career average of 46.04.
In front of Australia's most memorable Test series against South Africa since the 2018 Newlands ball-altering outrage, Warner's declining yield with the bat has additionally gone under the magnifying lens.
He hasn't scored a Test century in almost three years, and his unsuccessful attempt to lift his permanent leadership ban caused distractions off the field. He also struggled in the recent 2-0 win over West Indies.
However, McDonald stated that Warner was "firmly" considered for the four-match tour of India that will begin in February.
McDonald stated to reporters, "At this stage we've got him in our plans for India."
"As I said, we'll see what happens in the three Test matches that come after that,"
Throughout the South Africa series, which begins on Saturday at the Gabba in Brisbane, all eyes will be on Warner.
Warner was deemed to have led the scandal and was one of three Australia players suspended for "Sandpaper-gate." He was banned from leading Australian teams for the rest of his life.
He furiously pulled out his application to have the boycott evaluated by a free board last week, saying the board needed a "public preliminary" of his part in the Newlands issue.
According to McDonald, Warner had already moved on from the saga and was unlikely to be burdened by Newlands' past when facing the South Africans again.
He excels at compartmentalizing and separating the off-field from the on-field aspects of his job. "The majority of great champions do that very well," McDonald stated.
"He has progressed, and we are progressing as a team.
"Our focus is firmly on that, as is David's, because we have a seriously good opponent at the Gabba."