Australia captain Pat Cummins keeps options open, refusing to rule out dropping struggling opener David Warner for the final Ashes series match.

Left-handed opener Warner has expressed his desire to retire from Test duty after the upcoming Pakistan series at his home ground in Sydney next year.

However, the 36-year-old may not have the opportunity to end his Test career on his own terms following another disappointing performance against England’s Stuart Broad during Australia’s three-wicket defeat in the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Sunday.

Warner managed scores of only four and one in Leeds, with Broad dismissing him on both occasions, increasing his tally to 17 Test dismissals of Warner throughout his career.

Despite Australia leading the five-match Ashes series 2-1, Warner has struggled to make an impact, averaging a mere 23.5 with just one half-century in six innings.

Warner’s lack of runs has presented Australia with a challenging decision in the nine days leading up to the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The absence of tour games complicates matters further, making it harder for reserve batsman Marcus Harris or others to stake their claim.

Another scenario that could lead to Warner’s omission is if all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who made a remarkable 118 runs and took two wickets in his first Test since 2019 as a replacement for the injured Cameron Green, retains his place alongside Green, who is expected to recover in time for the Manchester Test.

When asked about the possibility of leaving Warner out to accommodate both Marsh and Green, Cummins responded, “We’ll keep all our options open. We have nine or 10 days now, so we’ll take a step back. We’ll have a break for a few days, but everyone will be back in the mix. Greeny should be fit for Manchester, and we should have a full roster. So, we’ll assess the pitch, have discussions, and determine the best XI.”

However, Cummins was more resolute when questioned about the likelihood of dropping Marsh. “It’s possible, but he had an impressive week, didn’t he?” he said.

England’s successful chase of 251 at Headingley, reviving their Ashes hopes with the series at 2-1 in Australia’s favor, marked the first significant setback for the touring team.

Earlier, Cummins led Australia to victory in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval. He followed that with crucial contributions with the bat, guiding Australia to a two-wicket win in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston and a 43-run victory in the second Test at Lord’s.

The matches against Ben Stokes’ England side have been gripping encounters, with Australia aiming for their first Ashes series win in England in 22 years.

“It’s intense out there,” said Cummins. “I actually enjoy the feeling of having some control over the situation when you’re in the middle of it. It’s a hundred times worse when you’re in the changing room, wishing you could do something about it but you can’t.”