David Warner throws hat in ring for career revival at 38

David Warner was unwanted in the IPL auction, but after a fairytale season in the BBL he’s pushing for a career revival.

David Warner didn’t attract a sniff in the draft for The Hundred last year but is trying again, aged 38, having led the Sydney Thunder to the BBL final.

The former Australian opener is looking to secure one of only eight international slots in the English competition that has already snared now-retired ODI skipper Steve Smith, who will be in the UK for the World Test Championship final.

But Warner, who went undrafted last year, his first year of full international retirement, is among 22 Australians, including eight members of the squad that made the semi-finals at the Champions Trophy, looking to earn some winter cash.

Emerging players including Jake Fraser-McGurk and Cooper Connolly, who made an ugly, nine-ball duck in the semi-final loss to India in Dubai, will vie with Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Adam Zampa for a berth.

David Warner made 405 runs for the Sydney Thunder. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Despite his age, Warner delivered a landmark performance for the Thunder in the BBL having been handed the captaincy after the lifetime leadership ban imposed by Cricket Australia for his role in the sandpaper scandal was lifted.

His 405 runs was the second most in the tournament, a figure passed only in the final by the Hurricanes’ breakthrough star Mitch Owen whose century in the final in Hobart denied Warner a huge achievement in a fairytale first season as skipper.

But Warner, who has listed himself at the second-highest reserve price of $245,000, has found the going tough as a freelancer since ending his time in international cricket.

He didn’t attract a bid in the Indian Premier League auction held last November but did pick up a contract in the Pakistan Super League.

He also found himself playing in little-known leagues in the Caribbean in 2024.

KEY AUSTRALIAN NAMES IN THE HUNDRED DRAFT (with reserve prices):

* $245,000 – Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Adam Zampa

* $160,000 – Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short

* $129,000 – Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris, Daniel Sams, Matthew Wade

* $106,000 – Scott Boland, Cooper Connolly, Riley Meredith, Mitchell Owen, Matt Renshaw, Will Sutherland

* $85,000 – Ashton Turner, Beau Webster

Originally published as David Warner throws hat in ring for career revival at 38