Opener Carey wants to stay at the top

National limited-overs vice-captain Alex Carey says he would "love" to continue opening the batting in Australia's one-day side but the looming return of banned veteran opener David Warner could dash those dreams.

Carey was elevated up the order from No.7 to No.1 for this month's Gillette ODI Series against India where he scored 47 runs in three innings alongside captain Aaron Finch.

But with Warner potentially slotting back in the ODI outfit once his 12-month suspension expires in late March, Carey's days opening the batting could be short-lived. 

"I'd love to stay at the top, absolutely," Carey told reporters in Sydney today at the T20 World Cup fixture announcement. 

"I love batting with 'Finchy' and I love opening in T20 cricket and one-day cricket. 

"It would be nice to have another opportunity up there. 

"Obviously, there's some guys going really well around the country, there's some good competition happening in Australian cricket. That's only a positive."

Wicketkeeper-batter Carey has scored hundreds in both 20- and 50-over cricket at domestic level opening the batting and provides valuable flexibility when he takes on the new ball.

In the India series, which the visitors won 2-1, dynamic allrounder Glenn Maxwell batted at No.7 to provide the hosts an experienced, explosive player in the lower order. 

But should Warner earn a recall for this winter's World Cup in the UK, the left-hander would likely resume his prolific opening partnership with Finch.

Since the last 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015, Warner and Finch have been Australia's most successful ODI partnership with 1350 runs at 50 in 27 innings with three hundred-run stands.

Despite Finch's recent form struggles, the Victorian – and captain – looks set to open the batting in the World Cup, meaning just one top-order spot is up for grabs, and it would be hard to go past reuniting the right-hander with Warner if he is fit, firing and available for selection.

But Carey says there has been little talk of the impending comeback of Steve Smith and Warner, whose year-long bans for the involvement in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal lift on March 28.

"We haven't really spoken about it, to be honest," Carey said. 

"It's one of those things where the players in the squad right now are doing everything they can to say 'that's their spot, that's my position'. 

"If they're performing and it makes it tough for the likes of Smith and Warner to come back in that's only stronger for Australian cricket. 

"Lots' of 'ifs' and lots of questions to be asked and I guess we'll wait and see when the ban is lifted and see what that looks like."

But Carey would love another crack at opening the batting knowing he has what it takes to succeed in the crucial position at the highest level. 

And the 27-year-old might not have to wait long. 

Australia will travel to India next month for a two-T20I, five-ODI tour which is immediately followed by a five-match ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE.

If he continues to partner Finch and start posting match-winning totals, Carey could cause the good kind of headaches for the National Selection Panel, who must name Australia's 15-man World Cup squad by April 23. 

"I didn’t get the output (against India) I would have liked; a couple of starts which is pleasing to say you're ready for that level," he said.

"To push through and get a couple of scores would have been really nice but to get a feel for the first 10 overs in an ODI was a really good experience. 

"Hopefully I get more opportunity at the top of the order there but if I don't and it's back down the middle then, against South Africa I really enjoyed that role as well. 

"There's 10 more games of ODIs leading in to the World Cup and with our squad, we'll wait and see what the next squad is, but (it's important) to get that settled and a nice balance.

"I think we've seen England have their squad together for a couple of years now and they're gelling really well. 

"I think we're really close."