David Warner calm on Australia Test future as Ashes loom

The left-handed opener leaves the India Test series early due to injury with questions surrounding his place ahead of facing England in June and July

David Warner remains calm over his Australia Test place ahead of the Ashes despite uncertainty over his long-term future.

The 36-year-old left-hander has been forced out of the India Test series with a fractured elbow which occurred during the defeat in Delhi when he also suffered a concussion.

It will likely see Travis Head open for the remaining Tests in Indore and Ahmedabad, providing an opportunity to stake a claim to keep the place for the Ashes.

Since the start of 2022, Warner has averaged 17.70 in Tests with just a single century - albeit a double hundred against South Africa in Melbourne - and two fifties in that period.

Australia and Warner's struggles in India run side by side (Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

"I've always said I'm playing to 2024; if the selectors feel that I'm not worthy of my spot, then so be it, and I can push on to the white-ball stuff," he told reporters upon arriving in Sydney.

"I've got the next 12 months, a lot of cricket's ahead for the team and if I can keep scoring runs and putting my best foot forward for the team and I can help my spot, it'd be great for the team.

"It's easy pickings when you're 36 going on 37. I've seen it before with the ex-players as well. 

"So for me if I'm taking pressure off the rest of the other guys, and no one's worrying about the rest of the team, I'm happy to do that."

On top of Warner's poor recent form is his record in England, which has seen him score 651 runs at 26.04 with no hundreds. That return was damaged significantly by a torrid 2019 tour when an inspired Stuart Broad led him to averaging just 9.50.

Warner endured a torrid time on his last visit to England (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Warner is scheduled to return to India for the ODI leg of the tour which starts on March 17, ahead of the Indian Premier League with Delhi Capitals.

Australia selector Tony Dodemaide was given the opportunity to quell the uncertainty over Warner's position but instead chose to focus on the remaining Tests of the India series.

"We're worried about what we can get out of these remaining two Tests, obviously that's a clear focus for us at the moment," he said.

"We'll address the Ashes planning [at a later time], but we are committed to picking the best fit and available players for Test series, particularly something as big as the Ashes.

"That's not a question that we've addressed so far. We are very keen, as everyone I'm sure at home would be, for us to get something out of this remaining series."