Misbehaving batsman ready for play David Warner. Australian captain Michael Clarke has spoken bullishly about David Warner's prospects of playing in the first Test, and dismissed concerns that picking him would downplay the seriousness of his crime. As the Australian team headed to Nottingham to prepare for the Ashes, Clarke suggested the misbehaving batsman's match-winning potential would outweigh his lack of competitive cricket when it came to selecting the XI for Trent Bridge. Warner's suspension for punching opponent Joe Root in a nightclub meant he has been limited to practising in the nets but he is available to come straight back into the team, which would expose the inconsistencies in Cricket Australia's punishment systems. Clarke is no longer a selector but coach Darren Lehmann, who is, has said he will largely get the teams he wants. He's certainly served his punishment. His punishment was no cricket up until the first Test match, now it's about working out what our best team is. I don't believe David won't be selected because of the punishment. I think that's been dealt with. Warner had been warned about his loose behaviour long before taking a swing at Root and also about his physical conditioning. Clarke suggested he had been more disciplined in that respect since the incident at the Walkabout in Birmingham. He's been in the nets every day. I think if you see him now, just looking at him, he's a lot fitter now than he has been," Clarke said. It's been tough for him, there's no doubt about it. I'm sure he would have loved to have spent some time in the middle but he understood at the time the consequences and I think he's handled himself really well and I've been really happy with the way he's been working. Warner has reached double figures twice in his past nine innings across the Champions Trophy and IPL but Clarke said his lack of cricket over the past month was not a big concern. I think he averaged 46 last summer in the Test format so I don't think that's going to be a case. Certainly selectors are going to take into consideration that he hasn't played much cricket over the past couple of weeks but on the other side of that the type of player Davey is it's more about his mind being clear and playing with that intent," Clarke said. I don't think Dave is the type of player that needs two four day games to make some runs to feel confident. If he's in the right place batting well in the nets I'm confident if the selectors do decide to pick him he can walk straight out onto the first Test to make a hundred. The audacious left hander is seemingly competing with Steve Smith for the No.6 batting position, and Smith stated his case with 68 not out and 43 in the tour game at Worcester. I think he's done everything in his power with the bat. I thought he played some really good innings on the Australia A tour that got him brought into the squad and I think the way he played throughout this game is really exciting for us, but just about everybody has played a game now and selectors need to work out what they feel is the best XI for the conditions in Notts against the attack we're about to face," Clarke said of the right hander's prospects. Clarke would not confirm where he intends to bat in the series but he spent both tour matches at No.4 and hit a sparkling 124 in his second game after three months sidelined with his back injury. "It's a little bit stiff, my whole body generally has been a little bit stiff over the past couple of days, just getting back into four-day cricket, but in general I'm feeling really good," he said, adding that he would be fit to bowl during the Ashes. The Australians won the first tour match against Somerset but drew the second, the bowling attack of Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird, James Faulkner, Shane Watson and Asthon Agar (with cameos from Smith and Phillip Hughes) unable to take the last five Worcestershire wickets. Clarke said he expected the selectors would wait until the morning of the first Test to name the XI.