Australian cricket stalwart David Warner has officially confirmed his retirement from international cricket, yet he has intriguingly left the door ajar for a potential return at next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. The announcement, which Warner shared on Instagram, follows a phased retirement over the past year from various formats of the game.
Warner retired from Test cricket in December 2023 after Australia’s three-match series against Pakistan. He subsequently bid farewell to the 50-over format following Australia’s historic sixth ODI World Cup victory in India last year. Last month, Warner’s international career seemingly concluded when Australia exited the T20 World Cup during the Super 8 stage.
Despite these retirements, Warner has indicated his willingness to represent Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025, set to be held in Pakistan in February.
“I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for [Australia] in the Champions Trophy if selected,” Warner posted on Instagram.
Australia’s Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, has shared his views on Warner’s potential one-off return for the Champions Trophy. In January, Cummins suggested that it might be time to give other players a chance in the 50-over format.
“I think it’s probably time to give some others a crack [in ODIs], but knowing that he’s going to still be playing cricket. So it might be more of a kind of break glass in an emergency option.
But, you know, David is going to be scoring runs somewhere in the world. So you never quite know that this is (the end),”
Cummins said.
Despite the open possibility of a Champions Trophy appearance, Warner has officially concluded his international career. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude and pride.
“Chapter closed!! It’s been an unbelievable experience to play at the highest level for such a long period. Australia was my team. The majority of my career was at the international level. It’s been an honour to be able to do this. 100+ games in all formats is my highlight.”
“I want to say thanks to everyone out there who has made this possible. My wife and my girls, who sacrificed so much, thank you for all your support,”
Warner wrote on Instagram.
During his illustrious career, Warner made 112 Test appearances, scoring 8786 runs at an average of 44.6, including 26 centuries and 37 half-centuries. In T20Is, he played 110 matches, amassing 3277 runs at an average of 33.4 with a strike rate of 142.5, which includes one century and 28 fifties. In ODIs, Warner accumulated 6932 runs at an average of 45.3, with 22 centuries and 33 fifties, a record second only to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
As Warner transitions from international cricket to franchise leagues, his legacy as one of Australia’s most explosive and dynamic batsmen remains firmly intact. Fans worldwide will undoubtedly watch with interest to see if Warner dons the green and gold once more for the Champions Trophy in 2025.
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