David Warner’s call goads selectors
David Warner says he wants to finish his Test career in January. In his heart, it may already be over.
Dave Warner seeks an SCG farewell. Old mate is being a bit optimistic there. His plans sound more like a plea. Or a dare. A goading of selectors. He’ll surpass present expectations if he has a gig after the first two Ashes Tests.
Warner’s basically done his dash. Umpteen athletes have said, in hindsight, they retired the day they announced their departure date. The ensuing days were just filling in time. The heart was no longer completely in it. It’s gloriously and typically optimistic of Warner to propose a Test send-off in Sydney in January when it’s not up to him. Only a bloke entrenched in the XI can nominate an estimated time of departure. Future appointments aren’t up to Warner. Every Test from here may be his last.
Warner will greet Stuart Broad in the Ashes like Mick Fanning facing another shark upon returning to Jeffreys Bay. With no small amount of trepidation. Bloody nightmarish memories. I’m not sure what would be more harrowing – averaging under 10 in an Ashes, as Warner did in 2019, or having a great white eye you off – and Warner knows better than anyone that treading water until January is pie-in-the-sky if recent history continues.
The goading of selectors; will you really deny me a Sydney goodbye? Tons are the currency of Test batsmen. Warner has one from his last 32 innings. Not good enough.
He should probably have received the old heave-ho a while ago. Disappoint in England and he’ll get the Ian Healy treatment. Healy wanted and probably warranted, if we’re being sentimental, a farewell Test in Brisbane in 1999. He was on the decline and a young fella by the name of Adam Gilchrist was banging down the door. Healy was ditched. Warner’s fortunate there’s been no Gilchrist equivalent among Australian openers, no young bloke plundering hundreds in Sheffield Shield – does Sheffield Shield still exist? – but Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris have been making first-class runs and they’re in the Ashes squad.
Warner’s 103-Test contribution is respected but the 36-year-old is not so beloved that folks are desperate for him to continue through to Sydney. Pub talk suggests he’s already overstayed his welcome. He’ll suit up for next week’s World Test Championship final against India at Lord’s. He’ll get a run in the first two Ashes Tests. The squad will be reassessed then. Warner’s been in decent nick in white-ball cricket. He hasn’t lost the hand-eye co-ordination. You can lose your nerve at his age, though, lose you clarity when a red ball and five days of play turns up. The good news for Warner? He’s in the Test team now. Which means he’ll stay in the team if he proves he deserves it. Fail in England and he’ll still be at the SCG when Australia plays Pakistan from January 3. But he’ll have a beer in his hand in the Members bar.
In Warner’s perfect world, which may not mirror the selectors;, he’ll play the Sydney Test then kiss goodbye to all international cricket at next year’s T20 World Cup.
“You‘ve got to score runs,” Warner said in England. “I’ve always said the World Cup would probably be my final game. I probably owe it to myself and my family – if I can score runs here and continue to play back in Australia … if I can get through this (WTC final and the Ashes) and make the Pakistan series I’ll definitely finish up (Test cricket) then.”
Test coach Andrew McDonald has said: “We’re optimistic with what Dave’s got left. We’ve picked him in the squad and we feel that he’s going to play a really significant part in the Ashes and the World Test Championship final. That’s why he’s on the plane. We think he’s got some good games left in him. He’s an important part of that squad. If he wasn’t, then we would have had a clear checkpoint after the first Test match or the World Test Championship going into the Ashes. That’s not the case. He’s clearly in our plans. He’s ready to go and we’re in constant contact with him.”
Getting through. Hanging on. It doesn’t fill you with confidence. Outwardly, Warner says he’ll be done in January. In his own heart, he might be finished now.
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