Selection chair George Bailey says Warner will be in action for next month’s short-format clashes
David Warner is set to have a second Australian farewell, with Cricket Australia expecting the opener to fly back from Dubai to feature in next month’s Twenty20 series against West Indies.
Fresh off his Test retirement, Warner will fly in by helicopter to play for the Sydney Thunder in Friday night’s BBL clash with the Sixers.
Due at his brother’s wedding in the Hunter region on Friday afternoon, Warner is set to land in a helicopter in Sydney later that evening to play at the SCG.
Allianz Stadium was at one stage an option for the helicopter landing site, but has since been ruled out.
The opener will feature in the last three regular-season games for the Thunder, before being cleared to play for the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 in Dubai.
The Capitals are owned by Warner’s IPL franchise, the Delhi Capitals.
It had initially been thought Warner could see out the tournament in Dubai and skip the T20s against the West Indies, sparking the first serious club-versus-country debate in Australian cricket.
But chief selector George Bailey on Wednesday confirmed Warner would have to be back to play in the home T20s, which will double as his last internationals in Australia.
“He’ll be part of those T20s at the back end of the summer and the ones in New Zealand as well,” Bailey said. “That’s the same with all our Australian contracted players. If they’re going to be selected in a squad then they’re available.
“If they’re not (selected), then it depends what sort of domestic cricket responsibilities they have before they are cleared to play elsewhere.”