David Warner will bat on beyond the Sydney test with support of selectors

David Warner made a massive 200 at the MCG with speculation swirling about his future and he’s laid out what’s next for him.

DAVID Warner hasn’t yet felt those nagging thoughts players close to the end get, the feeling that it’s time and says he “doesn’t feel 36”.

So the star Australian opener was quick to shut down any talk of an SCG swan song in the third Test in Sydney, adamant he’s got tours to India and England on his radar, with the selectors’ urgings pushing him on.

Warner blasted what he considered a near-career best innings as he pounded 200 against South Africa at the MCG, in his 100th Test, an effort boosted on his personal list because of the circumstances in which it was made.

David Warner celebrates his double-century at the MCG (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Not just the furnace-like 38C heat, but also the pre-game turmoil around his leadership ban and the aborted challenge to have it lifted, plus his lack of batting output in 2022, while also having not score a Test hundred in more than 1000 days.

But Warner was adamant he was never out of form, just “out of runs” and his innings backed up his belief he has more to give in 2023 as Australia goes to India in February before an Ashes series in the middle of the year.

“Yeah, 100 per cent, definitely,” Warner said when asked post-match about his plans to keep playing beyond the Sydney Test.

“I don’t feel 36. I’m running faster than a lot of these youngsters in here. So when they catch up to me that I might think about pulling the pin.

“But look, I think the extra motivation for me is winning in India, and completely winning a series in England. I’ve been told by the coach and the selectors they’d like me to be there.”

Warner conceded there were “doubts” before the South Africa series began about not just his future but his ability to score, his mind also clouded by off field issues.

David Warner enjoyed his big scores at the MCG (Photo by William WEST / AFP) /

But unburdened by them now, his leadership challenge “parked” permanently, Warner is adamant he’s not feeling any pull towards retirement, with things still to achieve, including addressing his personal horror Ashes in England in 2019.

“Obviously, there was a lot of stuff before this series going on through my mind and was there doubts here? Of course,” he said.

“But for me, it was about just going out there and knowing that I’ve still got that hunger and determination because every time I rock up a training, I’ve got it.

“And people keep telling me you’ll know when it’s time and I haven’t really felt that at all yet, so I’m still enjoying it. I still know what energy I can bring to the team.

“I think once I start losing that spark and energy around training, and you know taking the mickey out of people, playing some jokes here and there and pranks. I think that’s when I probably know it’s time.”

David Warner of Australia waves to his family in the stands at the MCG (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Warner rated his 200, just the third time in 100 Tests he’s reached the mark, as “one of my best innings for sure”.

“You’ve played 100 games and you know, people talking about retirement and you know, could be my last innings and what not,” he said.

“You can probably say it is I’d say the way that I went about it, you know, with that pressure behind me, I think it has to be definitely one of my best innings for sure.”

Originally published as David Warner will bat on beyond the Sydney test with support of selectors