Aussie cricket champion David Warner has played his last game in Australian colours on Australian soil.
Capping off a big summer that saw Warner retire from Test and ODI cricket, the 37-year-old confirmed that it would be it for the national team at home.
However, he will be hoping for one last hurrah at the T20 World Cup in June.
Watch Australia v West Indies on Kayo Sports. Every Test, ODI and T20I Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
Warner had Australia looking like they could chase down the West Indies’ 6/220, hitting his 50 off 25 balls before racing to 81 off just 49 balls before being dismissed in what will be his final innings in Australia.
But when Warner fell, so did the Australian innings, with the visitors winning by 37 runs.
The opener finished with a bang, claiming the player of the series after tallying two half-centuries in the three-match series, with 173 runs at 57.66 to all but book his place on the plane to the World Cup.
But after the tournament, Warner admitted he’d close the curtain on his international career.
“No, no, I’m well and truly done,” Warner said in his interview with Adam Gilchrist.
“It’s time for the youngsters to come through and showcase their talents. We’ve got extreme talent here and you’ve got a lot of the guys here from Perth that are in this team at the moment. We’re in good stead for the future.”
Clarifying, Gilchrist asked: “So we can confirm, that’s the last time we’ll see David Warner in Australian colours on Australian soil?”
“That’s indeed yes,” Warner said.
Speaking after the match, Aussie legend Mike Hussey said it was a “big moment”.
“Let’s hope he’s there for the World Cup because he still looks in great touch, he’s still as fit as ever,” Hussey said.
With a series against New Zealand before the Indian Premier League still to play out before the World Cup, there’s still plenty of cricket to be played.
The 37-year-old opener said that he would use the time in between to “freshen up” and spend time with family, which is usually a luxury on the increasingly jam-packed international calendar.
“Freshening up and spending some time with the girls,” Warner said of his wife Candice and three daughters.
“Not sure that’s going to freshen me up but it’ll be great to spend some time with them and work on their schooling and sport and just be home in my own bed.”
Discussion about this post