Paine reveals message from Warner after controversy over his comeback comment

Former Australian captain Tim Paine was sure his former teammate David Warner was “fishing” when he commented that he was available if the selectors needed him for the upcoming India Test series.

speaking in SEN Tassie On Friday, Paine said Warner, who retired last year, wasn’t serious when he raised his hand to open alongside Usman Khawaja this summer if the nation needed him.

“HE’S GONE FISHING”: TIM PAINE’S OPINION ON DAVID WARNER’S RETURN COMMENTS.

While many disagreed with the former goalkeeper, suggesting that Warner really wanted to do a backflip out of retirement to play in the 2024/25 summer, Paine revealed that the 37-year-old has spoken to him in recent days to confirm that his theory was correct.

“I wasn’t very serious, that’s Davey,” Paine said in SEN Tassie.

“How do I know? Because I talked to him, that’s how it was. Is that enough for people?

“He said, ‘I’ve got good ones, haha.’

“Of course, that’s Davey’s thing. People say, ‘You’re not serious,’ I’m very serious, but he’s not (about this).”

With Warner out of the picture, the Australian selectors have confirmed they will name Usman Khawaja’s opening partner after the two-game ‘A’ series between Australia A and India A which begins this Thursday in Mackay.

NSW’s Sam Konstas, SA’s Nathan McSweeney, Victoria’s Marcus Harris and WA’s Cameron Bancroft, who have been named in Australia’s A team, look the most likely options to fill the vacant spot.

The first of five Tests between Australia and India begins in Perth on November 22.