Former Aussie cricket captain Tim Paine has laughed off suggestions David Warner will be returning to the Test team this summer having backed Josh Inglis to make a late push for selection. The 37-year-old caused a stir this week after the claimed if selectors asked he would answer the call to open for Australia in the series against India this summer.

This comes after Steve Smith announced he would be moving back down the order to No.4 following Cameron Green being ruled out due of the series due to a back injury. Warner copped plenty of criticism for the comments having retired last summer from red-ball cricket.

Many felt Warner failed to read the room with his latest comments as a number of other players are trying to put their hand up and claim the coveted position in the team. However, Paine quickly dismissed Warner’s suggestion and admitted it was never being taken seriously. He even claimed Warner was only trying to wind up the Aussie cricket community ahead of the series.

“That is what Davis is doing, he has gone fishing and everyone has bitten down hard,” Paine said on SEN Radio. “They have taken the bait. David is retired. He will not be playing in the next Sheffield Shield game or any more Test cricket for Australia. That is clear when he retired.

“What he has got is having the great knacks of saying something and people just biting down on it. Well done to him, he has played everyone beautifully. He says he is dead serious, but he is not.” Paine added Warner’s propensity to create headlines is why he will feature in the commentary box this summer.

“Everyone continues to bite on it. He has a great knack of creating news, that is what he has signed on to Fox Sports. He will be great in the the commentary box.”

Plenty of names have been thrown around to open with Usman Khawaja for the series against India with former international batters Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris. However, Aussie cricket great Ian Healy has claimed Inglis could be the surprise package to open this summer.

“We seem to be overlooking Josh Inglis in WA. He’s batting with his elbows out,” Healy told SEN. “Back-to-back hundreds, so he should make the team as a bat.”

And former Aussie captain Tim Paine has also backed Inglis to fill in at the top of the order. Paine claimed Inglis’ aggressive approach to batting could be what the selectors are looking for when it comes to Warner’s long-term replacement.

“If Australia are going to pick the best six batters, like they say they are, than I think he is in it,” Paine said on Inglis. “They are looking for a certain style of player. Because they want a play certain brand of cricket. They at least want one opener who can go out and do what David Warner has done for years.

“That doesn’t mean that person has to have been opening in Sheffield Shield cricket for the last 10 years. They are looking for a style. And Josh Inglis fits the bill.” Paine said Inglis could be used to take on the Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, and believes the in-form batter could be the go come the first Test match.

David Warner’s leadership ban overturned

After year’s of fighting his punishment, Warner has also seen his captaincy ban in Australian cricket overturned. Warner lodged an appeal with Cricket Australia to have his ban from the 2018 “Sandpapergate” saga overturned.

And an independent three-member review panel unanimously determined Warner met the criteria to have his ban overturned to allow him to take up a new role in Aussie cricket circles. The decision means Warner could find himself in a formal leadership role with the BBL’s Sydney Thunder this summer.

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“In 2022 we updated the Code of Conduct to ensure there was a fair and rigorous process in place for all players and player support personnel to have long-term sanctions reviewed,” Cricket Australia chief executive Officer Nick Hockley said on Friday. “I am pleased David has chosen to have his sanction reviewed and that he will be eligible to take up leadership positions in Australian Cricket this summer.”

Sydney Thunder head of cricket Trent Copeland has already suggested Warner could take up a leadership role this summer, only moments after his ban was lifted. “David is a valued member of the Sydney Thunder family and has demonstrated tremendous leadership qualities at the club over the last two seasons,” Copeland said. “This decision provides us with the opportunity to consider David for further leadership roles at Sydney Thunder, but also allows him the chance to embrace other leadership opportunities inside and outside of cricket.”