The Ashes: David Warner likely to rejoin Australia squad before third Test
Troubled Australian opener, who scored 193 versus South Africa 'A', says he deserved to be dropped for the first two Ashes Test
David Warner, who scored a brilliant 193 against South Africa 'A' in Pretoria on Wednesday, is likely to rejoin Australian team before the third Ashes Test at Old Trofford, Manchester on August 1.
According to a news in skysports.com, the left-hand opener will rejoin the Australia squad in England on Monday.
Meanwhile, Warner who was dropped for the first two Ashes Test on disciplinary grounds, said on Thursday that it was a wake-up call. "Sitting on the sidelines and copping that punishment and not being selected it was a thing that I needed," Warner said from South Africa. (Also read: We will do everything we can for a whitewash: Anderson)
Warner was banned by Cricket Australia after he threw a punch at England batsman Joe Root in a bar after an ICC Champions Trophy match in England last month.
"I definitely needed a kick up the bum. It was my own fault the incident that happened. My job was then to support our players, support the rest of the group and do everything I could to help them prepare for the games. I did that and I know the other guys on the tour did the same thing. We've all been working very hard," he added. (Martyn tells Australia to solve own problems)
The 26-year-old batsman was then sent to join the Australian's 'A' set-up on their tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in order to gain some match practice.
He struggled in his first tour match in Africa, making just six and 11 in his two innings against a Zimbabwean Select XI in Harare last week.
However, he returned to form against South Africa 'A' to put himself firmly in contention for an Ashes call-up.
"I hadn't really played for about 40 days so with no cricket under my belt I was fortunate enough to be sent here and get some game time in. I know I would have had to wait until after the first two Tests to get any game time over there otherwise," Warner added.
Coach Darren Lehmann has already opened the door for Warner's return to the fold saying: "The slate's pretty clean with him. We can't control what's happened in the past."
"We've spoken about it and dealt with it. We'll move on."