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David Warner has set his sights on joining rare air and opening for Australia beyond his 36th birthday as he eyes Test success in India before retirement.
David Warner has listed Test success in India as a priority before retirement, with the next Ashes series also a lure for the veteran opener to play on past 2022.
Warner has been one of the few common threads in Australia's decade of Ashes dominance at home, winning 12 of 13 Tests and drawing the other.
But after one of the most comprehensive retentions of the urn was confirmed on Tuesday, Australia have set their sights on more success abroad.
They will aim for the fourth whitewash in Ashes history in Sydney and Hobart, before tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2022.
A tour of India is also set for next summer and expected to be played in early 2023, with Nathan Lyon the only current member of Australia's team to have won a series in Asia in 2011.
The 2023 Ashes series in England is also a chance to break a 22-year drought for Australia, after only drawing in the country in 2019 when they retained the urn.
Warner, 35, and has long spoken about his desire to keep playing, believing his one-year ban in 2018 has extended his career.
He would join elite company by playing on into next summer and 2023, with Justin Langer, Matt Hayden and Chris Rogers the only Australians to open the batting at Test level beyond their 36th birthday in the past 60 years.
"Winning the Ashes here was obviously a big (goal)," Warner said when asked what he still wanted to achieve in his career.
"We still haven't beaten India in India. That'd be nice to do.
"And obviously, England away, we had a drawn series, but hopefully if I manage to get that chance or opportunity I might think about going."
Australia's players enjoyed a rest day in Melbourne on Wednesday and will arrive in Sydney on New Years' Eve with a far busier 2022 ahead.
It will in many ways shape their chances of reaching the 2023 World Test Championship final, which would likely fit between an India series and the Ashes.
Australia have made no secret of targeting qualifying for the final, with Marnus Labuschagne saying before the Melbourne Test that was fuelling their desire for an Ashes whitewash..
There is also a one-day World Cup in late 2023 in India, which both Warner and Aaron Finch have indicated they want to play a role.
Beyond that, Australia are desperate to return to the top of the Test rankings after slipping to fourth following last summer's home series loss to India.
"Last year really hurt losing on home soil," Warner said.
"When we've got our full strength team together, we're quite unstoppable.
"Those (subcontinent) tours (in 2022 and 2023) will really show where we are as a team and our character.
"There's a new World Test Championship we're playing for. Each game has its merit and we're excited."
