Australian batsman and Allan Border medalist David Warner has indicated a probable retirement from T20s following the consecutive World Cups that are set to be held later this year and the next year. According to Warner, 33, the shortest version of the game could be the one he could ‘drop’ first in order to go for the longer run during the twilight years of his remarkable international career.
With close to 14,500 international runs, Warner has emerged as one of the best batsmen in the game over the last decade. He was majorly regarded as a T20 specialist in his formative years, but the southpaw has inserted impeccable adaptability and constancy into his game ever since making his debut for Australia in the longer formats. After a return to international cricket earlier in 2019, he finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the World Cup – with 647 runs in 10 innings.
A total of 1815 runs at an average of 69.81 between January 9, 2019, and January 8, 2020 – the highest by an Aussie – meant that he ran away with his third Allan Border medal in the annual Australian Cricket Awards.
Speaking after claiming the accolade, he conceded:
“I don’t have a BBL team; I took a break during this period, and that was about my body and my mind, making sure I’m getting ready for the next series that comes up. If you look at T20 internationals, we’ve got back-to-back World Cups as well, that’s probably a format that could be one I’d probably drop in a few years.”
Adding a couple of important points on both professional and personal notes, he stated:
“I have to look at the schedule; it’s going to be very difficult [for me] to play all three forms, and good luck to all the guys who want to keep playing that. You talk to guys like AB de Villiers and Virender Sehwag, these guys who’ve done it for a long time, it does become challenging. Having three young kids and my wife at home all the time, the constant travelling becomes very difficult. If it was to come down to one format, it would probably be the international T20s.”
Warner will be aiming to go the extra yard in 2020 after yet another successful phase in the international circuit, as he prepares for a three-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting on February 21.
Related Reading:
- ICC Hall Of Fame 2020 Inductees: Kallis, Sthalekar & Abbas
- India Tour Of Australia 2020-21 Full Schedule (T20I,Test,ODI)
- Neil Wagner Reveals His Plan For Virat Kohli Ahead Of Christchurch Test
- India Suffer 1st Defeat in World Test Championship (5 Talking Points)
- NZ vs IND 1st Test: Miscommunication With Rahane Leads To Pant’s Run-Out
- David Warner Clinches Allan Border Medal Despite Ashes Horror Show
Leave a Reply