Former England Test captain, Michael Vaughan, has stirred up a storm in the cricketing world by dropping a rumour that could potentially lead to the most significant retirement upheaval in the Australian cricket team in last two decades.
Speaking on Fox Cricket’s fifth Test preview, Vaughan claimed that there were whispers circulating in the press box during the fourth Test, suggesting that two Aussie superstars might be playing their final Test match at The Oval, London.
The rumoured players are none other than the renowned Australian batters, David Warner and Steve Smith. Vaughan emphasized that the information he received was based on informal discussions among journalists on a rainy day, and there is no concrete evidence to support the speculations.
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According to Vaughan, there was talk that Warner, who has been a prominent figure in the Australian cricket setup, might consider calling it quits after the fifth Test at The Oval. The 36-year-old opener has had a mixed Ashes series in England, with inconsistent performances in the previous matches.
Similarly, the rumour mill has also been abuzz with suggestions that Smith, widely regarded as one of the best Test batters of his era, could also contemplate retiring from Test cricket following the conclusion of the fifth Test.
“Well, it’s always the case on a rainy day when the journos get a bit bored, and you start talking to a few. But the whisper was and I have no idea where they’re getting this whisper, but that Warner, if he plays at The Oval, it’ll probably be his last,” Vaughan was quoted saying on Fox Cricket.
“Again, I’m not too sure where they’ve got that. And quite a strong whisper was about Steve Smith that it could be his last time out for Australia at The Oval as well. Again, I’ve not seen that personally, but it’s just the whisper and the gossip.
“It might just be the rain in Manchester that gets people talking, but that was the talk of the press box yesterday that a couple of Australian legends, greats might call it a day.”
Smith’s remarkable 32nd Test century during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 29, made him equal Steve Waugh‘s record for the most centuries by an Australian in Test cricket. His century at Lord’s further solidified his reputation as a true Ashes legend, with a total of 12 centuries in Ashes matches, tying him with the legendary Jack Hobbs for the second-most tons in the historic rivalry. Only Sir Donald Bradman‘s record of 19 centuries against England stands ahead.
While these retirement rumours have caused a stir among cricket fans and pundits alike, it’s crucial to remember that they remain mere speculations until officially confirmed by the players themselves or Cricket Australia.
The fifth Test at The Oval will undoubtedly carry an extra layer of significance if there is any truth to these whispers.
