Australia opening batter David Warner has confirmed his Test retirement plans and said that he will end his career in the longer format during the upcoming Australian summer. Warner has made it clear that he will not take part in the series against West Indies, saying that the SCG Test against Pakistan in January 2024 will be his last Test match.
The Southpaw is currently in England preparing for the Test Championship Final against India, which is set to begin on June 7, and is expected to feature in the five-match Ashes series against England. The 36-year-old revealed the news to reporters prior to Australia's training in Beckenham on Saturday.
"I probably owe it to myself and my family - if I can score runs here and continue to play back in Australia - I can definitely say I won't be playing that West Indies series. If I can get through this (WTC final and ensuing Ashes campaign) and make the Pakistan series I will definitely finish up then," Warner said.
Warner hopes to compete in 2024 20-20 World Cup
The former Australian captain also hinted that the 2024 20-20 World Cup could mark the end of his international career. "You've got to score runs. I've always said the (2024) 20-20 World Cup would probably be my final game," Warner said on Saturday.
"I want to play that 2024 20-20 World Cup. It is something at the backend of my mind. But we have got a lot of cricket before that and then I think it stops from February. For me then I get to play IPL and some of the other franchise leagues and then get into that rhythm to play (2024 20-20 World Cup) which I think is in June.
Warner hasn't been in good form in the red-ball cricket after his groin injury in late 2020. Since then, he has scored only one century in the format - a double hundred in his 100th Test match against South Africa.
He further said: "For me I have always played each game as if it is my last. I enjoy being around the guys...being that ball of energy and bringing energy to the group. I will just keep working as hard as I can to get to there and it starts this Test match against India."
Here's how fans reacted as David Warner revealed his retirement plans:
What an end to a wonderful era of warner. Will miss his jump up celebration.
— Tom Gravestone (@Whygravestone) June 3, 2023
iska career cricket me tha hi nahi...he is made for tik tok instagram wagere
— Noname (@Noname04882690) June 3, 2023
English summer will be owned by Warner.
— sirprashm (@sirprashm) June 3, 2023
They know when to retire
— Abhishek ⚡ (@149_Edgbastonn) June 3, 2023
But sadly Rohit Sharma still says he is not planning to retire from T20I
After then he will play Test Cricket only in #Ipl
— Sukdev (@Megh_nad) June 3, 2023
But Fraud Rohit Sharma still not retiring In T20S 😞
— A.Ashwal (@Ashwal7A) June 3, 2023
Even David Warner is retiring from a format where he's inconsistent
— Touched some Grass (@Somejoblessdude) June 3, 2023
Meanwhile Rohit Sharma in T20s 😭
Pakistan ko pel ke retire hoga 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— RAJA RINKU SINGH (@Giyu_Rengoku318) June 3, 2023
Will start his career as full time tiktoker
— Ujjawal Athrav (@Ujjawal_athrav) June 3, 2023
Australian Goat Of THIS DECADE 🐐🐐🐐
— Tanya Verma🎈 (@Tanya_Verma69) June 3, 2023