In regards to all time greats who have taken to the field for the Australia cricket team, David Warner is one of the more iconic names which may come to mind. However, in the last couple of years, his retirement buildup has been ongoing, with fans speculating when his career may be coming to an end.
However, the Aussie star has finally announced that he is retiring from One Day Internationals as well as Test matches following the test against the Pakistan cricket team that took place between the 26th and 29th of December.
A Career To Remember
David Warner has been an exceptional opener for Australia in all 3 formats of the game, with his batting feats spearheading the Aussie side on multiple occasions. However, his on field prowess is often overshadowed by the 2018 ball tampering scandal which saw a crisis arise in the world of cricket. After being banned for 12 months, as well as being stripped of the vice captaincy role, he made a return in the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup, before suffering an incredibly poor Ashes cricket series, only managing to score 95 runs across all of his 10 innings.
Before his ban though, Warner had established himself as one of the best allround batters in the game, but after returning to the sport, he failed to replicate the form that had once put him such acclaim. As a result of this, rumours of retirement began to circle, with Warner himself coming out himself and saying there was a lot of talk about the rumours in relation to recent performances.
Fitting End For An Illustrious Career
Warners has come and claimed that if it weren’t for the resurgence in form he experienced in the Ashes cricket series against the England cricket team earlier in the year, the batting star would have called it a day earlier. In fact, he came out to say that he actually had penned in the final Ashes game at Lords as his final test match, wanting to nip his poor performances in the bud early.
But with some strong consistent innings with opening partner Usman Khawaja, Warne washed away any doubts over his ability, putting up three half century stands in the first two Ashes tests, scoring another in what he had previously claimed would be his last test.
Thanks to recent showings, the 37 year old was named in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup squad for the Aussies, with this seemingly being the fairytale ending to compound on top of retaining the Ashes earlier in the year. Although heading into the final as heavy underdogs when facing off against the India cricket team who hadn’t lost up until that point, the Aussies still managed to provide an upset for the ages, claiming their record breaking 7th world title, and allowing all time great Warner to bow out in style.
Warner Leaves Door Open For Potential Return
After winning the World Cup, Warner hinted at pushing on for the 2027 edition in hopes of helping his country retain the title. However, noting that he would be pushing into his 40’s, as well as the fashion in which they rebounded against India, he claimed it made it the ideal finishing point for his ODI career.
Despite this, Warner has left the door open for a return with the Aussie side come the 2024 T20 World Cup and could even make an exception for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy should his national team need him. With him being the 6th highest run scorer for his country, as well as being second in terms of centuries scored, he is undoubtedly a valuable asset who could play an important role in future tournaments.
For more cricket news, keep up to date with Cricket Today!
