David Warner posts heartfelt tribute to Candice following retirement

David Warner has posted a lengthy message on social media regarding his wife Candice, following his retirement from Test cricket.

Retired Test cricket star David Warner has delivered a heartfelt tribute to his wife Candice, days after his career came to an end.

The divisive figure hung up the bat after helping lead Australia to a 3-0 series whitewash against Pakistan.

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In a lengthy post to his personal Instagram account, Warner praised Candice for being the main reason behind his career longevity.

“I write this with a lot of emotions. What can I say!!! Honestly, you, @candywarner1, are the reason I made it this far,” Warner wrote alongside a carousel of images of the pair.

“I’ve said it many times before: 4am wake-ups, you’re off your head. Cricket players do not need to do this, but the thought of what discipline meant to me was that I didn’t know the real meaning.

“We don’t train at that hour, we don’t play at that hour, but what it does do is change mindset to what impossible is to be made possible. I can’t thank you enough for entering my world and giving me the best chance of doing what I love for as long as I did.

“You’ve faced challenges with grace and determination, showing me what true courage looks like. Your unwavering support and boundless optimism have been a source of inspiration for me, and I am grateful for the way you’ve transformed my world with your presence. I can’t imagine life without you.

Candice has been David’s rock. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“You’ve shown me the true meaning of love, and I am forever grateful to have you by my side. Your unwavering belief in me has given me the strength to push forward, and your unwavering love has shown me the beauty of the human you are.

“You’ve also constantly been there for our girls when I was away and never once have I ever heard you say this is tough, challenging or too hard. You’re solid, loyal and my goodness tough as nails. There is no better role model than you for our three beauties.

“Thank you for being my partner, my rock, in this incredible journey called life. I am grateful for your love, your strength, and your support. Here’s to you, my love, for being the extraordinary woman that you are. I am blessed to have you in my life, and I will cherish you always. I love you.”

It was a heartfelt message from the retiring star. (Photo by Izhar KHAN / AFP)

Candice admitted she’s “not so sad” that David’s Test and ODI career had come to an end in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.

Asked about comparisons to English football legend David Beckham and former Spice Girl turned fashion mogul Victoria Beckham’s marriage, Warner admitted they didn’t have quite the spotlight of Posh and Becks but still had plenty to deal with.

“He cops it more than anyone I know,” Candice said of her husband.

“When he’s away the crowd can be so much, and there’s people giving it to him on social media, the media itself.

“But he deals with it in a way that I’ve actually never seen anyone deal with it.

“He never makes excuses. He never says it’s all getting too much. He just cracks on.

“And I take my hat off to him for that because he is a warrior.”

Candice, David and the kids. Picture Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/CICxOdGL93S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

She said the pair managed the intense scrutiny by simply being together as a family unit.

“Sometimes the hate from the crowd has been intense,” she said.

“Having that, that’s why when you come home that’s your sanctuary. And for us, home is so important because it’s just our escape from the world.

“Sometimes it hasn’t been easy. Sometimes it has taken a lot of courage to front people or to just walk outside the house.

“But David and myself, we are very resilient. We’re strong.

“It’s something that is just within us and I see it in the girls now, just their inner strength and their resilience.

“And I think that’s one of the things that I’m most proud of with David’s career.

“When I’m thinking about his retiring, it’s not so sad.

“I say to him: ‘There were tough times and you made it. Your back was against the wall on so many occasions’.

“And I think if other players or other people were in the same situations, I’m not sure if they would have been able to push through and break that wall down.”