David Warner available for Champions Trophy 2025, despite announcing ODI Retirement: Australian opening batter David Warner has dropped a bombshell to announce that he would be hanging his boots in the One Day International (ODI) cricket alongside marking an end to his test career. The batter himself confirmed all the details on Monday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia is set to lock horns against Pakistan in the third Test, starting January 03.
While Warner’s test retirement was due, his decision to retire from the ODIs has come as a surprise for the fans and experts, especially after having a great time in India during the ODI World Cup 2023.
Though David Warner has announced his retirement from the 50-over cricket, the batter has made himself available for selection for the Champions Trophy 2025 if Australia needs him.
“I’m definitely retiring from one-day cricket as well,” he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. “That was something that I had said through the World Cup, get through that, and winning it in India, I think that’s a massive achievement.”
His abrupt decision to retire from the ODIs meant that the ICC World Cup 2023 final match against India was his last ODI appearance in the format. The southpaw ends his magical 15-year-long career with 6932 runs in 161 matches. He amassed 22 centuries and 33 half-centuries in the format during his stay in the middle.
He ends his career as the sixth-highest run-getter in the format for Australia and is only behind legendary Ricky Ponting in the centuries scored. Furthermore, David Warner is the third fastest batter to score 6000 runs in the ODIs.
The opening batter has hinted that he would look for opportunities to play league cricket. He was expected to miss Australia’s upcoming ODI series against West Indies and sign a deal with the ILT20 league franchise Dubai Capitals.
“So I’ll make that decision today, to retire from those forms, which does allow me to go and play some other 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. If I’m playing decent cricket in two years’ time and I’m around and they need someone, I’m going to be available.”
Interestingly, Warner has kept the doors for T20Is open for him. He is likely to remain around the international arena until the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA.
The upcoming 3rd test match between Australia and Pakistan will be David Warner’s final test assignment. The batter wished to play his last test match in front of his home crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), and his wish has been fulfilled.
Warner will take guard for one last time in the red-ball cricket on January 03 against Pakistan. His home crowd at the SCG would mark a fitting end to his illustrious 12-year-long career.
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