David Warner, the experienced Australian batsman has proclaimed his intention to retire from the international cricket arena on a high note, saying that the Australian team will take a fearless approach as they seek history at T20I World Cup.
However Warner is still unsure of coming back in 2025 for Champions Trophy if it creates an opening bat spot for Australia. Nevertheless, he feels that the group might not even require him for that particular function.
Australia’s contests are scheduled to be held in the Caribbean during this year’s T20 World Cup which will have 20 teams competing and will be hosted by West Indies and USA in June. This tournament offers Australia an unprecedented chance to accomplish something remarkable for the game of cricket.
Warner aged 37, together with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head are amongst just four other players who have been given the chance to make history by becoming first ever team to hold three ICC trophies simultaneously having clinched World Test Championship and ODI World Cup already within last one year.
“It is only when you sit back and reflect upon it all after everything is completed,” said Warner currently in Trinidad through The Sydney Morning Herald. “Recently I did an interview with ICC asking about this stuff and all those things that I have done, I cannot even remember but yeah it has been great.” He added.
But he continues to hint at something more like ICC’s revived Champion’s Trophy or Mini world cup next year which is scheduled to happen in Pakistan.
“I guess they don’t need me,” he laughed.
His left hand was injured hence David Warner missed out on playing any further Indian Premier League (IPL) matches this season. Despite this own disadvantage though, notably demonstrating preparedness by scoring 54 runs off just 21 balls against Namibia in practice match played at Trinidad a week ago.
He won’t participate until Australia face Oman in their opening fixture set for Thursday night at Barbados’ Kensington Oval.
Warner has had an amazing journey to say goodbye to the big stage. Australia won the ODI world cup title beating India in India last November. Thereafter, in January he played his last test match and said goodbye to traditional cricket at Sydney. It is highly expected that while playing in the Caribbean, he will play his final T20 international match.
When this top batsman decides to retire will not matter anymore but for sure one thing is confirmed; Warner will go out with a bang no matter which team he faces for his last moments on the cricket field.
“Over the last few years we have always played fearless and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful,” said Warner. “We don’t care about our position in a side, we just want to do what we can and try and be that game changer whenever we’re doing something,” he added.
“Fortunately, we have many of them. One day it might be one fellow, and the next day it’s another person. We just know that in this top six if one person can make between 60 to 80 runs and at a good strike rate we know we will always put up a good score. It is the same with the new ball. If Starcy [Mitchell Starc] is swinging the ball, we’ll get early wickets, and that brings the spinners into the game.” He said.
David Warner believes that Australia’s crushing win against India in last year’s world cup coupled with their solid performance versus South Africa in semi-final has given them an edge over their rivals.
“If you look at how we have responded when our backs were against the wall after those first couple of games [losing badly to India and South Africa], you would never write us off,” he said.
