Give David Warner two Ashes Tests before the axe, says Mark Taylor

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor claims David Warner should be given two Ashes Tests to secure his spot in England, while urging selectors to make Cameron Bancroft or Matt Renshaw the next opener in line.

Selectors are expected to name a squad for the World Test Championship final against India and the Ashes this week, with the focus firmly on the top of the order. Warner, 36, is expected to be named in that squad and also be picked for the WTC final at The Oval on June 7 before the five-Test Ashes series begins on June 16.

The heat remains firmly on the veteran opener to produce runs early in England. Warner’s double-century against South Africa at the MCG last December is his sole triple-figure score in 32 innings, while he averaged just 9.5 on the last tour of England, the lowest average for an opening batsman in the 146-year history of the Ashes.

But despite what Warner himself described as a “horrendous” Ashes series in 2019, Taylor believes the embattled 103-Test opener should play in the first two Tests against England if selectors pick him to face India.

“If I am reading the tea leaves right, it sounds like they will stick with David for the World Test Championship at The Oval,” the former Test skipper told AAP. “And if that’s the way Australia are thinking about the World Test Championship, then yes, they have to start with him for the Ashes.

“It would be very hard to have Usman Khawaja and Warner open the batting and then change a week later for the first Test at Edgbaston,” Taylor said. “Whoever they think is our best opening combination for the World Test Championship, should do the first three Tests of the summer.”

Selectors have previously indicated they will break the English summer into two blocks of