David Warner Open to Playing Champions Trophy Despite Retirement

David Warner has called his tenure as an international player a “closed chapter,” but the legendary batsman from Australia also stated that he wouldn’t mind bolstering up in the Champions Trophy the following year, should he be selected—a move that his ODI captain Pat Cummins has referred to as a “emergency option.”

After Australia won the World Cup in November of last year, Warner announced his retirement from ODIs. In January, he played his final Test match against Pakistan. His last T20I was played on June 24 in the recently concluded worldwide showcase of the shortest format versus India.

“Chapter closed!! It’s been an unbelievable experience to play at the highest level for such a long period. Australia was my team. The majority of my career was at the international level. It’s been an honour to be able to do this. 100+ games in all formats is my highlight,” Warner wrote in an Instagram post on Monday.

“I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for Australia in the Champions trophy if selected,” he added.

Warner has previously expressed interest in competing in the 50-over competition. He had shown interest in participating in the Champions Trophy when he announced his retirement from ODI and Test cricket in January. The Champions Trophy will return to Pakistan in 2019 following an eight-year break.

Regarding Warner’s return for the Champions Trophy, Pat Cummins had stated in January that “I think it’s probably time to give some others a crack in ODIs, but knowing that he’s going to still be playing cricket.”

“So it might be more of a kind of break glass in an emergency option. But, you know, David is going to be scoring runs somewhere in the world. So you never quite know that this is the end.”

Thanking his family, supporters, and teammates for an amazing career, Warner, who finished as Australia’s top scorer and the ninth most prolific batter in the world in the T20 format with 3,277 runs from 110 matches at an average of 33.43 and strike rate of 142.47, looked back on his remarkable career.

“For all the cricket fans out there, I truly hope I have entertained you and changed cricket, especially tests, in a way where we scored a bit faster than others. We cannot do what we love without the fans, so thanks.

“I want to say thanks to everyone out there who has made this possible. My wife and my girls, who sacrificed so much, thank you for all your support. No person will ever know what we’ve been through.

From 112 Tests, he has scored 8,786 runs at an average of 44.59 with 26 hundreds and 37 fifties between 2011 and 2024.

He also scored 6,932 runs from 161 ODI matches at an average of 45.30 with the help of 22 centuries and 33 half centuries.

“To the players and staff, thanks for putting up with me. No more what’s app junk, your ears are now going to be free of my voice. This team has had unbelievable success the Last few years and long may this continue. Pat cummins, Andrew old Mac and staff have got this,” he added.

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