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Australia’s prolific opener, David Warner, has decided to bid farewell to the One Day International (ODI) format, aligning it with his retirement from Test cricket. The announcement was made on Monday morning in Sydney, where Warner addressed the media ahead of the upcoming New Year’s Test against Pakistan, signalling the end of his illustrious red-ball career.
That was something I had said through the World Cup: David Warner
“I’ve got to give back to the family,” Warner expressed during the announcement, emphasizing the importance of dedicating time to his personal life. The two-time ODI World Cup-winner has been a stalwart figure in Australian cricket, and his decision to retire from both formats marks a significant transition in his cricketing journey.
Warner, who played a pivotal role in Australia’s triumph in the recent World Cup held in India, mentioned that the decision to retire from ODIs was a plan he had outlined during the tournament. “That (ODI retirement) was something I had said through the World Cup, get through that and winning that in India is a massive achievement,” he stated.
Warner available for the 2025 Champions Trophy
While bidding adieu to ODIs and Tests, Warner did not entirely rule out the possibility of participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy if the national team requires his services.
“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,” Warner explained. “If I’m playing decent cricket in two years’ time and I’m around and they need someone, I’m going to be available.”
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Warner’s ODI career has been remarkable, featuring 161 matches where he amassed a total of 6,932 runs, making him the sixth-highest run-scorer in Australian ODI history.
Despite stepping away from ODIs and Tests, Warner remains an active international cricketer in the shortest format, being one game away from reaching 100 appearances in all three formats of the game. Additionally, he expressed his intentions to participate in franchise T20 leagues, with his next appearance expected at the ILT20 with the Dubai Capitals.
As Warner embarks on a new chapter in his cricketing journey, fans around the world will undoubtedly remember his contributions to Australian cricket.
