While Australian great Ricky Ponting believes David Warner should’ve retired from Test cricket after the Sydney Test against South Africa earlier this year, he reckons the southpaw will make his comeback in the longest format of the game.

Warner's Test future has come under the scanner after he returned home following the second Test against India in Delhi with a fractured elbow. His Test form has been a cause of concern since 2022. In 14 matches, the veteran opener has scored just 607 runs at 26.39, which includes a double-century in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Warner featured in the first two Tests versus India and registered scores of 1, 10 and 15 in the three innings. He looked far from being comfortable against the spinners.

Despite that, Ponting feels the left-hander will return to the Australian Test team that has secured a place in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 Final.

"I think they'll definitely want to play him in the World Test Championship match. They have got some really big decisions to make, leading into the Ashes [in England] as well. A bit like some of the selection issues they had coming to India. They're probably going to have similar things to think about when they get to the UK because David's record in the UK is not as strong as it is in some other places around the world," Ponting said on The ICC Review.

"But I don't think it's the end of David Warner, I think they'll bring him back for that one game. If he does well there, then I think he'll probably start the Ashes and see from there," he added.

However, Ponting believes David Warner has already missed the chance for a perfect retirement after his double hundred against South Africa at MCG last December.

"Look, I was on the radio a couple of days ago, back here in Australia, and I thought the absolute best time for Davey to retire if he was thinking about it at all, was after the Sydney Test match here in Australia. He'd just played his 100th Test in Melbourne and obviously got 200 in the first innings down there. And to bow out in front of his home crowd is obviously the way that every player would like to finish their careers," said Ponting.

"Who knows now that opportunity might not come around again for Davey, you know. That's nearly another 12 months away," the former Aussie captain added.

Ponting remains hopeful Warner can regain his form and give himself a chance to take retirement on his own terms.

"Look, I'd love it if he could do that. It'd be fitting if he could do that, finish in front of his home crowd. But he's going to have to play really well between now and then for that to happen. And in my own heart of hearts, I hope that's the case. I think his career deserves to finish the way he wants it to. Sort of not to be dropped or tapped on the shoulder in the middle of an overseas tour and have his career end in that way. That's why I just hope he can find it within himself to score a lot of runs between now and next summer. If he does, then next summer might be the ideal opportunity for him," he concluded.