David Warner has declared that he will be retiring from one-day international cricket before his last Test. The experienced opener stated that now is the appropriate time to end his ODI journey after Australia’s victory at the 2023 World Cup in India, where he was the top scorer for the team.

Warner had been considering retirement even before the tournament and officially announced it during a press conference on Monday, just before his final Test match at the SCG this week.

The 37-year-old expressed that they were extremely satisfied with the decision. They found it truly incredible to achieve victory in India, considering the circumstances.

“After experiencing two consecutive losses in India, our team’s camaraderie only grew stronger. It was not a coincidence that we were able to reach our level of success. Therefore, I have decided to retire from ODIs.”

Warner has announced his retirement as the sixth-highest scorer in Australian ODI history, with a total of 6,932 runs accumulated over 161 matches. He has recorded 22 centuries, the second highest for any Australian ODI player, with only Ricky Ponting surpassing him with 29 centuries in 105 more innings.

Warner expressed willingness to return for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan if needed. This tournament is the only one missing from his list of accomplishments. He was not a guaranteed player in the team when Australia last won it in 2009.

“I will be willing to join if I am still playing well in two years and the team is in need,” he stated. In 2027, Australia will compete in the ODI World Cup in South Africa to defend their title.

Warner indicated that retiring from ODIs would open up more chances to participate in franchise cricket abroad, particularly the ILT20 in the United Arab Emirates. He is also keen on continuing with the BBL once his contract with the Sydney Thunder ends this season.

Warner expressed his interest in participating in the Big Bash league next year, despite also having a commentary position with Fox Sports. He mentioned the upcoming ILT20 and his desire to play in it alongside his commentary duties.

Warner has been a familiar presence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009. However, due to a packed international schedule, he has yet to participate in other major T20 leagues such as the Pakistan Super League and England’s the Hundred. He did play in the Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League for one season each, but this was before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Warner’s last match will take place on Wednesday at his home stadium, giving Australia the opportunity to achieve a 3-0 series sweep against Pakistan. Prior to participating in the World Test Championship final and Ashes during the Australian winter, Warner announced his intention to retire after the Sydney Test. However, some outspoken critics viewed this decision as self-centered.

Warner addressed the speculation surrounding his performance and wanted to address it promptly. He silenced any doubts about his capability to play at the SCG with a score of 164 in the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. However, had he and his opening partner Usman Khawaja faced challenges during the Ashes or if Australia had not been successful in the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, the outcome could have been different.

“I mentioned that my preferred plan to end my cricket career would be in Sydney,” Warner remembered. “However, I had initially marked Lord’s as my final Test, especially if my performance with Uzzie at the top of the batting order wasn’t as successful as it turned out to be.”

“If you are trailing 2-0 and then lose the third, I don’t think it is wise to continue playing. If I had been struggling and we hadn’t won, the decision would have been simpler. I didn’t want to place the team or selectors in a situation where they had to consider pushing me on. It was more about me being satisfied and content with my career rather than seeking more.”

Warner was unable to achieve his first century in England during his fourth Ashes tour, but he did make promising starts in the first two matches. His standout performance was reaching 66 runs at Lord’s, which was his highest score in England in almost eight years. Warner and Khawaja’s opening partnership exceeded 60 runs in three out of Australia’s first four Ashes innings, giving him a sense of accomplishment for his final match at the SCG.

Warner acknowledged that he has been feeling emotional ever since the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. He explained that initially he didn’t have many strong feelings about potentially ending his career at Lord’s, but since returning to Australia it has become more poignant as he prepares to play in his final Test match.

Rephrased: Scoring 160 points was a significant achievement for our team, and it was heartwarming to receive support and praise from people on the streets who said, “Congratulations, we are behind you.” This support is truly meaningful.

Source: theguardian.com