David Warner has been handed the chance of a hoped-for Sydney Cricket Ground farewell after being named in Australia's squad for the first of three home Tests against Pakistan.
The squad named Sunday, which includes the 37-year-old opener, is only for the first Test in Perth from December 14-19.
If he holds his place for the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting on Boxing Day, Warner will be in line for his dream farewell on his home ground in Sydney from January 3 to 7.
Warner's recent test form has been mixed and he has averaged 28 in the longest format since the summer of 2019, when he made a triple century against Pakistan in Adelaide. He has made clear his wish to end his Baggy Green career at Sydney while continuing to play for Australia in white-ball cricket.
Warner will start the summer opening the batting with Usman Khawaja, while other opener candidates — Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris — will have a chance to stake their claims with the Prime Minister's XI which plays Pakistan at Canberra from December 6 to 9.
Fast bowler Lance Morris is closer to a Test debut after being recalled to the 14-man squad. Cameron Green also returns after previously losing his Test spot to Mitch Marsh. Alex Carey has been chosen as the keeper.
Spinner Nathan Lyon is back after recovering from a calf injury which ruled him out of the latter stages of the Ashes series. He replaces Todd Murphy.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner