Australia legend Ricky Ponting believes David Warner has left himself open to having his Test career ended by selectors, saying the veteran opener should have retired in January.
Warner has been ruled out of the rest of Australia’s Border-Gavaskar campaign in India after breaking an elbow during the second Test in Delhi.
The 36-year-old was unable to overcome his poor record in Asia during the first two Tests, making just 26 runs over three innings in Nagpur and Delhi.
Warner entered the Boxing Day Test – his 100th match – under a mountain of pressure but hit a stunning 200 at the MCG to book his spot on the tour of India.
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Ponting, who coaches Warner at the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, drew comparisons between the end of his own glittering career and the left-hander’s red-ball decline.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“For him to finish the way he deserves to finish, the obvious thing for me was to pull the pin after Sydney,” Ponting told RSN this week.
“He got 200 in Melbourne, played his 100th Test, played the next Test in Sydney, his home ground and maybe finish there.
“The last thing he deserved is to be away on a tour and get in to the middle of a series and get dropped and his career is over. That would be an awful way for him to finish.
“It’s happened to all of us, it happened to me. When you get to a certain age and it looks like your form is dropping off slightly, then the knives are sharpened and it doesn’t take long.
“He’s a driven little man, a pretty stubborn little bugger, so we’ll see how he goes.”
After arriving in Australia from India last week, Warner vowed to continue playing international white-ball cricket even if selectors opted to axe him for the Ashes.
“I’ve always said I’m playing to 2024, if the selectors feel that I’m not worthy of my spot, then so be it, and I can push on to the white-ball stuff,” Warner told reporters at Sydney Airport.
When asked if Warner was still in Australia’s plans for the five-Test tour of England in June, selector Tony Dodemaide declined to commit to picking the aggressive opener.
“We’ll address the Ashes planning (at a later time) but we are committed to picking the best fit and available players for Test series, particularly something as big as the Ashes,” Dodemaide said last week.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Beats me!
jammel
Roar Rookie
I am strongly in the Head for #5 or #6 (and possibly captain!) camp for the Ashes! Bancroft or Renshaw to open in England. Admittedly, this does leave the door slightly ajar for DaveyW! I do think he'll be on the selectors' plane for England in June!
Pop
Roar Rookie
Memo Selectors: please don’t give the English public, Broad easy wickets and the Barmy Army in particular an Easter bunny, in Warner. An average of 9.5 in 2019 surely the selectors wouldn’t…….
Pop
Roar Rookie
That’s it, no fairy tale finish at the Gabba for Healy
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Warner has a terrible record in siberia Anyway, he's living in the 70's
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Looks like we've found that Jukebox in Siberia
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
More of a horror movie when it comes to Warner in England
Simoc
Roar Rookie
When Healy got axed he wanted to finish with a home town test. He didn't get it. Really Gilchrist should have replaced him 12 months earlier.
Pop
Roar Rookie
I think the contract money some of the players are on really mitigates against retiring.
Pop
Roar Rookie
If Head goes on and scores well in the fourth test, particularly if Australia win, that will be the catalyst for some very deep conversations.
Pop
Roar Rookie
At his age I don’t think we will see Warner opening against Pakistan at the end of 2023-4. He may continue in white ball cricket.
Pop
Roar Rookie
After Bill Lawry’s sacking in 1970-71, Ian Chappell who became the new captain said words to the effect. The b#st#rds will never do that to me”. They never did , he retired ON HIS TERMS. That press release ( your version Rowdy) affirms the contribution the player has made and maintains their personal dignity. It is respectful, but acknowledges the current reality. Sadly, the behind the doors convo goes something along the lines of “ announce that you’re retiring or we announce that you’ve been dropped”. It is threat based rather than relationally respectful. That is the way it appears. It is poor optics.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Ego is not a dirty word. Don't you believe what you've heard.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure ‘knives’ is the best description. To me that is in the back or unjust, maybe not treated fairly. Warner not getting picked on form if that happens is the way his wants it. Maybe I’m miss reading it
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Dodemaide couldn’t come out and say it. He couldn’t put the country out of it’s misery by saying Warner’s finished. ——— Dodemaide Press Release: (my version) ‘We are announcing that David Warner will not be selected for the coming Ashes in 2023. His service over the years has been excellent esp in the first half of career. He took everything before him. We now see the need to make a break from the current situation where the returns haven’t warranted his continued selection. He can take solace in that his career was unique and at times he was the driving force in many test wins. We do this with the positive intent that there will be new contenders vying for position as an opener. We wish David well”
AndyS
Guest
Smart move for Warner might have been to say, "Understand the sentiment, don't want to be an obstacle, will stand aside for India, give me a call for the Ashes if you think I might help". Would have taken a big brass pair, but the first two Tests would likely have played out the same way anyway and he might have benefited more from the possibility that he might have done better than the certainty that he wouldn't.
John Timothy
Guest
When PUNTER talks about cricket, you've to listen. YES! SCG Test should've been his last. Renshaw or Bancroft will have to open the batting with Khawaja in the Ashes.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Warner will come back as Test opener in the home Series, if not against England in the UK.
matth
Roar Guru
I doubt it. I'd say they will go back to a specialist in England and put Head back at 5. No spot for Handscomb unfortunately for him. As to who that opener is? Probably Warner frankly, which is a recipe for disaster.
JGK
Roar Guru
Well it looks like Head has ended Warner's career for sure. He'll be the new opener going forward with I guess Handscomb at 5.