Former Australian cricket captain, Ricky Ponting, believes that opening batsman David Warner missed the best time to retire from international cricket, especially Test cricket. Ponting’s comments came after Warner’s poor performance in the recent Ashes series against England.
In an interview with an Australian news outlet, Ponting said that if Warner had thought about retiring from Test cricket, he should have done so after the Sydney Test match in January 2022. Warner had scored a century in that match, and it would have been an ideal time to end his Test career on a high note.
Ponting further added that Warner’s performance in the subsequent Test series against England was not up to his usual standards, and he struggled to score runs consistently. Ponting, who is now a commentator and cricket analyst, said that Warner’s poor form was a sign that he might not be able to sustain his place in the Australian team for much longer.
David Warner has been a consistent performer for Australia in all formats of the game, but his performance in Test cricket has been particularly impressive. He has scored over 7,000 runs in Test cricket at an average of over 48, with 24 centuries to his name.
However, Warner’s form has dipped in recent years, especially in Test cricket. He scored only 95 runs in the five-match Ashes series against England, at an average of just over 19. Warner has also struggled to perform consistently in other Test series in recent times, including the series against India in 2020-21, where he averaged just over 25.
Despite Warner’s recent struggles, Ponting believes that he can still play an important role in the Australian team. Ponting said that Warner has a lot of experience and can contribute to the team in many ways, including as a mentor to younger players.
In conclusion, Ricky Ponting’s comments on David Warner’s retirement from Test cricket have stirred up a debate in the cricketing community. While some agree with Ponting’s views, others believe that Warner still has a lot to offer to the Australian team. Only time will tell if Warner will retire from Test cricket or continue to play and contribute to the Australian team.
Source of this article – ICC Review Article on ICC official website here.
