Veteran opener David Warner has been retained in Australia’s squad for the start of the Ashes series in England and is still in the mix for the World Test Championship final against India.

Speculation over the 36-year-old left-hander’s future in cricket’s longest format mounted when he was injured on Australia’s recent tour to India and missed the bulk of the test series before returning for the limited-overs matches.

Warner and two other candidates to open the batting — Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw — were included along with incumbent opener Usman Khawaja in the 17-man squad announced Wednesday for the start of the five-test Ashes series.

Cricket Australia said it would narrow a squad down to 15 on May 28 for the World Test Championship final, which begins June 7 at the Oval in London.