Pat Cummins responds after David Warner offers to come out of retirement for Australia

Steve Smith is keen to return to number four, leaving Australia’s selectors with a conundrum as they search for Usman Khawaja’s partner at the top of the order.

Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and teenage prospect Sam Konstas are all seen as contenders to open ahead of eagerly anticipated India’s five-match tour Down Under, which begins next month.

Warner – Australia’s fifth-highest run scorer in history – has also put his hand up for selection with a clear message to Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald, despite retiring from Test cricket earlier this year.

‘I’m always available, just got to pick up the phone,’ the 37-year-old told Code Sports.

‘Dave, we’re very interested. We’re taking it very seriously and we’ll be in touch, mate,’ a grinning Cummins said in a statement dripping with sarcasm.

‘I did speak to Dave a couple of days ago. I can’t remember if he reached out or I did… he’s like, “What do you think?”, and I was like, “Yeah, good luck with [Sydney] Thunder and I look forward to your comments on Fox!”.

Cummins declared his ‘love’ for Warner but believes the batsman’s recent comments were meant as ‘a bit of a wind-up’

‘I think the truth’s somewhere in the middle,’ he added.

‘I reckon it is a bit of a wind-up but I reckon he doesn’t mind seeing himself in the back page.

‘We love Davey but he is retired.’

Earlier this month, Smith dismissed recent reports that he had requested to be moved back into the middle order.

‘I said, “I’m happy to bat wherever you’d like me to bat but four would be my ideal position”,’ he told reporters.

‘I’m not really too fussed – I got asked where I’d prefer to bat and I said four.

‘I saw a few things last week saying I requested to bat at four – that wasn’t the case.

‘I’m happy to bat wherever they like me to bat.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.