Australia veteran David Warner announces retirement from ODI cricket

In the run-up to his final Test, David Warner has declared his retirement from one-day international cricket. Following Australia’s 2023 World Cup victory in India, when he was the team’s highest run-scorer, the veteran opener stated the time has come to call it quits in one-day internationals. Warner has been thinking about retiring since before the tournament and made his decision public at a press conference on Monday, ahead of his last Test at the SCG this week.

He was instrumental in Australia’s victory against India in the Cricket World Cup last year. Warner, Australia’s highest run scorer at the event, believed the moment was right following a “absolutely amazing” World Cup. He also stated that retirement will open up possibilities for other players and provide him more flexibility to play franchise cricket overseas – Warner has played in the Indian Premier League for 14 seasons and has a large fan base. He did not, however, rule out participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy if called upon.

“I’ve got to give back to the family and also on the back of that World Cup, I’m definitely retiring from one-day cricket as well,” he explained at a news conference on Monday.

“It’ll help the one-day team move along a bit,” Warners stated. “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,” he also stated.

Warner has also won the World Cup twice, once at home in 2015 and again in India in 2023. In 2015, he was Australia’s second-highest run scorer, with 345 runs in eight innings, including one century, at an average of 49.28 and a strike rate of 120.20. In 2023, he was Australia’s leading run scorer, with 535 runs in 11 matches at 48.63 and a strike rate of 108.29.

If Warner does not play in the Champions Trophy, he has retired with 6932 runs at an average of 45.30 and 22 centuries. He is Australia’s sixth-highest run-scorer in the format, trailing only former skipper Ricky Ponting’s record of 29 centuries for the most tonnes by an Australian player in ODIs. Ponting has also played 205 more One-Day International innings than Warner.

With the T20 World Cup coming up later this summer, Warner has indicated interest in returning to the Big Bash League for the following season. “I am definitely interested in playing Big Bash next year.” “There will be discussions behind the scenes to allow me to do that,” he stated.

Warner stated that his decision to retire from ODIs will open up more options to play franchise cricket overseas, particularly the ILT20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates. He also wants to stay in the BBL once his contract with the Sydney Thunder expires this summer.

Warner’s farewell Test begins on Wednesday at his home field, where Australia can clinch a 3-0 series victory against Pakistan. Warner announced his desire to retire after the Sydney Test ahead of the World Test Championship final and the Ashes throughout the Australian winter.

Following the conclusion of the NRMA Insurance Test series against Pakistan in Sydney this week, Warner will play at least four games for the Sydney Thunder but may miss the KFC BBL finals to play for his ILT20 team, Dubai Capitals, later in the month.