Australian opening batsman, David Warner, has given indications about his potential retirement from international cricket following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in 2024, scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA. After the series against Pakistan in January 2024, Warner intends to conclude his successful Test career on his home turf.
Having been an integral part of the Australian team across all formats of the game in recent years, Warner’s performance in the Test format has been underwhelming, leading to some doubts regarding his place in the Australian Test squad.
During a press conference in Beckenham on June 3, Warner stated, “You’ve got to score runs. I’ve always said the (2024) World Cup would probably be my final game.” He elaborated, “So, for me, I’ll have to play in the IPL and other franchise leagues and then get into that rhythm to play in June. There will be plenty of cricket to play. Who knows, I might even go back and participate in a Shield game for New South Wales.”
Further discussing his future in international cricket, Warner said, “If I can score runs here and continue to play in Australia, I owe it to myself and my family. I can definitely say that I won’t be playing the West Indies series. If I can successfully navigate through the upcoming WTC final and the subsequent Ashes campaign and make it to the Pakistan series, I will definitely conclude my international career then.”
Warner has represented Australia in 102 Test matches, establishing himself as the team’s seventh-highest run-scorer in the longest format of the game. With an average of 45.58, he has amassed 8158 runs, including 25 centuries and 34 half-centuries, while facing some of the most formidable bowlers in the world.
Currently, Warner is gearing up to participate in the WTC final against Team India, commencing on June 7 at the Kennington Oval in London. Following this, he will play a crucial role for the Australian team in the Ashes series, beginning on June 16.
Later this year in December, Australia will host Pakistan for a three-match Test series, with the third Test set to be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which also serves as Warner’s home ground.