David Warner in Australia squad for World Test Championship final and first two Ashes Tests

Mitchell Marsh has also been included in the 17-strong squad but Peter Handscomb, Ashton Agar, Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson miss out from the group which faced India earlier in the year

David Warner has been named in Australia's squad for the World Test Championship final and the first two Tests of the Ashes.

The 36-year-old opener returns to the side after being forced to withdraw from the series against India due to a hairline fracture in his elbow.

Warner has scored just one century for Australia since the start of 2021 - a double hundred against South Africa in December 2022 – while in the 2019 Ashes, his most recent tour of England, he averaged 9.50.

Mitchell Marsh has been recalled to the squad for the first time since 2019 and is expected to be the backup for Cameron Green. The allrounder has spent time on the sidelines over the past two years but impressed for Australia in the one-day games in India.

Australia's chair of selectors, George Bailey, said: "Not having Greeny during part of the India series highlighted to us the value of having that as a backup.

^{Warner had a miserable time against Stuart Broad in the 2019 Ashes [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

"Mitch has performed well in the UK in the past and we think he can add some real value."

Four players – batter Peter Handscomb and spinners Ashton Agar, Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson – miss out from the squad which faced India.

Bailey said: "The UK is a very different assignment from our most recent tour of India and some of the changes are based upon the conditions we are anticipating."

With flat and fast pitches anticipated in the UK, Australia have named four fast bowlers: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

^{Mitchell Marsh has been recalled as cover for Cameron Green [Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images]}

Sean Abbott and Michael Neser, two bowlers who have elected to play in the County Championship for Surrey and Glamorgan, respectively, have not been included.

However, Bailey has stated they will keep their options open for the remaining Tests: "We see value in revisiting the squad following the second Ashes Test given the short turnaround between the WTC final and the first Ashes Test, along with the length of the tour."

The WTC final against India will take place at the Oval between June 7-11. Australia will need to announce a 15-man squad for the final by May 28.

The first Ashes Tests is scheduled to begin on June 16 at Edgbaston before the series moves to Lord's (June 28-July 2).

Australia squad for WTC final and first two Ashes Tests: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

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