David Warner has once again entertained cricket fans by jokingly hinting at a possible return to international cricket. The former Australia opener shared an edited image of himself looking considerably older, accompanying it with a tongue-in-cheek message that suggested age would not prevent him from answering the call if his country needed him. Warner, who has retired from international cricket, posted the edited picture on Instagram as Australia A prepare to take on India A in a four-day match in Puducherry.
The first game of the two-match series is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 22. The former Australian batter made it clear that he would still consider himself available whenever Australia required his services. However, given the humorous nature of the post, Warner’s message appeared to be more of a light-hearted joke than a serious indication of an international comeback.
“I’ll forever be available whenever required for our country age is just a number my friend!!,” Warner wrote on Instagram alongside the edited image. The post quickly attracted attention, unsurprising given Warner’s status as one of Australia’s most successful batters of the modern era. The left-hander retired from Test cricket after the 2024 home series against Pakistan and subsequently stepped away from ODI cricket, although he has remained active in franchise cricket.
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Meanwhile, Australia A are preparing for an important four-day assignment against India A in Puducherry. Peter Handscomb will captain the Australian side, taking over the leadership role from Nathan McSweeney, who has regularly led Australia A in recent assignments.
McSweeney captained Australia A during their four-day match against the England Lions in December 2025. With the Test No. 3 position still attracting attention amid Marnus Labuschagne’s difficult run, McSweeney is reportedly being given an opportunity to focus primarily on his batting.
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Handscomb is also among the players being monitored by the Australian selectors ahead of the next Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The squad features promising young batters Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway, who will have another chance to gain valuable experience in Indian conditions.
Australia A’s playing XI includes Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Peter Handscomb, Jason Sangha, Josh Philippe, Liam Scott, Fergus O’Neill, Todd Murphy, Corey Rocchiccioli and Brendan Doggett.
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Kellaway is hoping the series provides a demanding test, particularly if the pitches offer assistance to spin. He previously impressed in India by scoring 88 alongside Konstas’ 109 on a flat Lucknow surface in September 2025. The young batter also hopes to learn from Handscomb, who has extensive experience playing in Indian conditions.
“I’m hoping we get some turning tracks over there because I guess that’s what you go over for,” Kellaway said. “You want to be exposed to challenges like that. So yeah, I’m hoping I can get over there and get some time in the middle and just learn on the go.” He added that speaking to experienced players such as Handscomb could help him understand what works in Indian conditions and improve his own game.
