Not SCG test! David Warner reveals when he wanted to retire from Tests and why he changed his decision

Australian opener David Warner will play his last Test of his career at the SCG against Pakistan.

David Warner, the prolific Australian opener, recently disclosed that he contemplated retirement from test cricket after the second match of the Ashes last year at Lord’s last year. On the eve of his final test against Pakistan, Warner shared the behind-the-scenes story of his decision-making process and the factors that led him to reconsider his retirement plans. Warner even announced his retirement from one-day internationals.

At the beginning of England tour, David Warner expressed his ambition to retire during the Sydney test. However, he admitted that his form would play a crucial role. The selectors had initially named the Ashes squad only for the first two tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s. Warner’s revelation sheds light on how close his test career came to an abrupt end and the emotional journey he experienced during the recent series against Pakistan.

David Warner reveals when he wanted to retire

David Warner revealed that he had Lord’s penciled in as his potential farewell if he felt he wasn’t contributing to the team. Reflecting on his decision, he stated, “I said quite clearly in England before the World Test Championship, there was a lot of talk about me and my form, [and] I wanted to nip it in the bud early, I said my ideal preparation to finish would be Sydney. But I actually had Lord’s penciled in as my last Test, especially if I didn’t go as well as I did as a partnership with Uzzie [Usman Khawaja] at the top of the order.”

Despite a challenging start in the World Test Championship final against India, where he made a vital 43, Warner’s form improved during the Ashes series. Notably, he played a crucial role in partnership with Khawaja, contributing to the team’s success. David Warner expressed his commitment to the team’s cause, stating, “Then from there it just followed on that we played some good innings together. I didn’t have that hundred [in England] that I always wanted but eluded me. But as a team and as a whole we did our bit, so to get this ending is awesome, but it’s not about me, it’s about us. We’ve won the series, but to win 3-0 and have a whitewash here at the SCG would be a great thing for the team.”

He highlighted the importance of team performance and winning as factors influencing his decision. Warner explained,

“If you’re down 2-0, and you go into that third one, and you lose that, I don’t think it’s the right choice to make [to keep playing]. It’s an easy exit,” For me, a second [reason] was if I was failing and we hadn’t won, then it would have been an easier decision.”

“I didn’t want to put the team or the selectors in a position where they had to think about, ‘mate, it’s time to push on’. It was more about me just going, ‘I’m content with that. I’m happy with it, I’ve had a great career’. But if I could still do my best and bat well with Uzzie and put us into a good position…I could do that for the rest of the series,” he concluded.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.