||Desk Report||
Former Australia great Ricky Ponting said  senior opener David Warner will continue to be a part of the Australian team when they embark on their home summer with the Test series against Pakistan.
Warner, 32, has all single digit scores barring a 61 in the Leeds Test. He also got out to England pace spearhead Stuart Broad six times, including on a duck on three consecutive occasions.
Australia have retained the Ashes 2-1 and in the ongoing fifth Test are staring down the barrel with England taking a huge 382-run lead after Day 3.
Ponting said Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Warner are the only certaincies for the first Test at the Gabba against Pakistan, starting November 12.
"Warner's going to be a lock," Ponting told cricket.com.au. "I don't care if he gets another duck in the second innings of this Test match, he's going to be a lock for the Australian summer.
"Marnus is an absolute lock. Smith's a lock," Ponting was quoted as saying by www.cricket.com.au.
Ponting also said that young batter Will Pucovski will be given an opportunity on home soil.
"With so many gaps like that, I'd like to see somebody like a Pucovski get an opportunity.
"Everyone's talked about him for a long time. He was in the Test squad back in Australia, he was in the Australia A squad over here.
"He hasn't got an opportunity yet but apparently he's quite an impressive young man.