David Warner Retires From ODIs, Says "Will Play Champions Trophy If..."

01.01.2024 - 04:28 sports.ndtv.com

Dynamic Australian opener David Warner called time Monday on one-day international cricket ahead of his farewell Test against Pakistan this week, but kept the door open to play the 2025 Champions Trophy if needed.

The 37-year-old will pad up in his 112th and final Test in his home city Sydney on Wednesday, having plundered 8,695 runs at an average of 44.58, with 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries.

At a press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he also announced his retirement from ODIs, where he has been a fixture since his debut in 2009, helping the team win the World Cup in 2015 and 2023. "I've got to give back to the family and also on the back of that I'm definitely retiring from one-day cricket as well," he said. "That was something that I had said through the (2023) World Cup, get through that, and winning it in India, I think that's a massive achievement. "So I'll make that decision today, to retire from those forms, which does allow me to go and play some other (Twenty20) leagues around the world and sort of get the one-day team moving forward a little bit. "I know there's a Champions Trophy coming up," he added. "If I'm playing decent cricket in two years' time and I'm around and they need someone, I'm going to be available." The Champions Trophy has not been played since 2017, but is set to be resurrected in 2025 in Pakistan.

Traditionally 50-over cricket, reports have said there is a push underway to make it T20. Warner leaves ODIs after 161 matches, smashing 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30, with 22 centuries.

cricket Australia Cricket Team David Warner Ricky Ponting Usa Australia India Pakistan

Star Australia batter Steve Smith opined that his team did not take him seriously when he told them that he wanted to move to the top of the batting order after David Warner's retirement. Smith said today that looking at himself as an opener for the first time in a 13-year Test career first came to his mind while playing against England during last year's Ashes series when Warner first gave signs of his potential retirement from the longest format of the game.

Watch: David Warner Storms Social Media, Reaches BBL Match In Helicopter

Australian cricket team batter David Warner made a Hollywood-style entry in a helicopter ahead of Sydney Thunder's Big Bash League match against Sydney Sixers at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The reason for Australia batter's unique entry is that he attended his brother's wedding in Hunter Valley and flew directly for the match. Warner recently called time on his Test and ODI career. The 37-year-old batter played his last Test match against Pakistan, where he scored 57 runs and helped Australia claim 3-0 clean sweep in the series. In his marvelous 13-year-long career, Warner played 112 Tests and 161 ODIs and broke numerous records.

David Warner Likely To Play T20Is Against West Indies Over ILT20

Australia's chair of selectors, George Bailey, believes that David Warner will play the three-match T20I series against the West Indies despite the series overlapping with the International League T20 (ILT20) tournament, where he is signed to captain the Dubai Capitals. Warner plans to participate in the ILT20, which begins on January 20, shortly after the home and away phase of the Big Bash League (BBL) is over. The ILT20 runs till February 18, however, the three T20Is versus the West Indies begin on February 9 and end on February 13.

On David Warner Being A 'Great', World Cup Winning Australia Coach's Explosive "Don't Think So" Comment

Former coach John Buchanan, who oversaw Australia's two 50-over World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, does not consider David Warner as one of the greats of the game, saying the title should be reserved for exceptional cricketers like Don Bradman and Shane Warne. Buchanan was in charge of one of the most successful Australian sides between 1999 to 2007. Warner, who retired from Test cricket last week, did not play under him as he made his Australia debut in 2009. Asked whether Warner was a “great”, Buchanan, speaking on SEN Breakfast, replied: “I don't think so".