In the run-up to his last Test match, David Warner declared his retirement from one-day international cricket at a press conference on Monday in advance of his Test swansong at the SCG this week.
The seasoned opener, who led Australia to victory in the 2023 World Cup in India as the team’s top run scorer, stated that it was now appropriate to call it quits on his ODI career. Warner announced his shocking decision of retirement when he is at the best. Warner had been thinking about it since before the tournament.
The 37-year-old declared, “I was very, very comfortable with the decision. It was very incredible to win in India from our current location. Our relationship became even closer when we lost two straight games in India; we didn’t reach where we are by accident or happenstance. I will decide to stop using such forms (ODIs) today.
Warner finishes his career having scored 6932 runs from 161 appearances, making him the sixth-highest run scorer in Australian ODI history. With 105 more innings played than Warner, Ricky Ponting has the most ODI hundreds (29), with 22 being the highest by any Australian player.
Warner would be willing to return for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, if asked upon. Among the few trophies that Warner’s résumé lacks is the Champions Trophy; when Australia last won it in 2009, he wasn’t a lock to be included in the starting lineup.
He declared, “I’ll be available if I’m playing decent cricket in two years and I’m around and they need someone.” Warner noted that there would be more options to play franchise cricket overseas if the ODIs were abandoned.
He has a contract with the Sydney Thunder that runs until the end of this season, and he is eager to keep playing in the BBL. Despite having a full international schedule, he has been a regular in the Indian Premier League since 2009 but has never played in the Pakistan Super League or England’s The Hundred.
Before the COVID-19 epidemic, Warner participated in one season each in the Bangladesh Premier League and the Caribbean Premier League. “My retirement from the ODI allows me to play in other leagues around the world,” he remarked. At Warner’s home field, Australia will play their last Test match on Wednesday in an attempt to seal a 3-0 series victory over Pakistan.
By refusing to restrict the candidate pool to specialized openers, Andrew McDonald has opened the way for Cameron Green to overtake David Warner at the top of the Test order. After declaring his retirement in June of last year, Warner had hoped to say goodbye to his home country. He will now have his last Test match in Sydney the following week.
Australia will be looking to finish Warner’s career with a victory as they look to defeat Pakistan 3-0 in the series after winning the second Test at the MCG by 79 runs.
Warner, who is still eyeing a career in white-ball cricket, was dubbed Australia’s best ever three-format player by McDonald on Saturday. The route is not as simple in the longest version of the game, according to Australia’s coach, even though Warner’s ultimate successors in limited-overs cricket are more obvious.
Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and Green were all mentioned by McDonald on Saturday as potential players. A decision will be taken prior to the commencement of the Adelaide Test on January 17.
After the SCG Test, Warner will rejoin the Sydney Thunder and play the remainder of the BBL. However, it is anticipated that he will submit an application to join the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, coinciding with Australia’s white-ball match against the West Indies.
The 37-year-old, who has previously appeared in promotional materials, needs a No Objection Certificate from Cricket Australia in order to participate in the T20 tournament.
