David Warner still a shock first Ashes Test smokey David Warner could still play in the first Ashes Test despite a suspension for punching English batsman Joe Root. Picture: Matt Turner Source: The Advertiser DAVID Warner remains a chance to play the first Ashes Test, threatening to make a mockery of Australian cricket's disjointed and unfair punishment regime. The wayward opener's suspension for punching England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar ends this Friday and new coach Darren Lehmann has made it clear he will give Warner every opportunity to press for selection in the first Test. Lehmann and his fellow selectors, chairman John Inverarity, Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel, have a duty to pick the best possible side to regain the Ashes. That could include Warner if Ed Cowan continues to struggle in lead-up matches. But Cricket Australia will be acutely embarrassed if Warner does play in the first Test, beginning at Trent Bridge on July 10. Lehman claimed that under his reign Warner started with "very much a clean slate." We can't control what's happened in the past. We've just got to worry about the future and make sure he gets enough nets and then comes into consideration like everyone else. That's all we can do," Lehmann said. Warner's appearance at Nottingham would mean that a player failing to complete his homework or missing a team meeting has committed a more serious offence than punching an opponent in a bar at 2.30am. Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson were all suspended for the third Test in Mohali last March as a result of 'Homeworkgate'. The saga seriously undermined recently sacked coach Mickey Arthur and ultimately cost Watson the vice-captaincy. In 2008 Andrew Symonds was sent home from a one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin for missing a team meeting because he had gone fishing. Symonds claimed he did not know the time of the meeting had been changed. Yet for an act by Warner that CA chief executive James Sutherland described as "despicable" and the England Cricket Board claimed was "an unprovoked physical attack," the batsman may not miss a Test. As his team mates warm up for the Ashes with four-day matches against Somerset and Worcester, the banned Warner has been practicing intently under Lehmann. "We were lucky enough here (Somerset) with the facilities that we've had, centre wickets every day, and he's been the first there and last to leave, so I've been pretty happy with his preparation and what he's trying to get out of what he can do without playing a match," said Lehmann. He's been good in that regard so no dramas there. Lehmann claimed that the right attitude was not just important for Warner but everyone in the squad. I don't know what's happened in the past so for me he's got to do that full stop. And he's not the only one, everyone who has to train that way. We want to train as hard as we can and be the best we can be at training, and then transfer that into the games.