David Warner set to reject Cricket Australia's central contract for next year - Reports

David Warner spoke to reporters in Kolkata ahead of the Australia-South Africa World Cup 2023 semi-final.

Ace Australia opener David Warner is all set to become a free agent next year, as reports have suggested that he’ll not renew his Cricket Australia central contract if offered one next year.

Warner, who has already stated his intention to retire from test cricket after the match against Pakistan at the SCG in January, he is yet to finalize his playing plans beyond his participation in the five-match T20I series beginning in India next Thursday (Nov 23) and then the test series against Pakistan starting from December 14 at Perth Stadium.

He has a contract with Dubai Capitals for the International League T20 competition, which overlaps with the final stages of BBL13, he could only participate in UAE league when his responsibilities are completed in late January.

Warner stated that his commitment after his final test performance in his hometown is his brother’s wedding in early January.

Warner’s revelation ahead of this year’s Ashes campaign in United Kingdom that he would end his incredible 12-years test career and also revealed his plans of leaving all international commitments to play for T20 franchises throughout the world.

David Warner on the downside of a CA central contract

He said that a central contract would not only limit his ability to play in global franchise contests but also the benefits of a low-ranking CA deal would be offset by sponsorship opportunities he might pursue as a freelance cricketer.

“I won’t be taking a contract, definitely not. How the system works in Australia is that if you play five (T20) games or ODIs, or three Tests, you get upgraded and then you’re legally bound by a contracting system with sponsors and stuff. That’s something that becomes a bit of a pain in the backside, especially at the stage of my career.

So I don’t want to be signed to that agreement and that’s something I have to think about moving forward because if you’re going to get a low contract, it’s going to cost you a lot in the long run with sponsorships. I’ve got to sit back and have a look at what the schedule is, the (ICC) Future Tours schedule and you’ve got a Champions Trophy that’s coming up as well,” Warner told reporters in Kolkata.

However, Warner stated that financial and playing factors would take a second seat to family commitments now that his girls are beginning to participate in organized sports and his wife Candice Warner has been shouldering the parenting workload for much of the last decade.

“I’ll have to give myself a little bit of time off after summer to actually think about all of that first,” he said of what awaits after his planned Test finale in Sydney. My goal is still to set my sights on playing the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean first (in June next year), and I think from there I’ll probably decide what I’m going to do with white-ball cricket,” he signed off.

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