Candice swats aside David Warner Ashes retirement rumours

Candice has stepped in to refute a rumour about husband David Warner - after it was dropped like a bomb on the Ashes series by an English great.

Rumours can so often lead to reality in professional sports, but the Warners are sticking to their guns about Dave’s reported retirement plans.

In the midst of another disappointing Ashes campaign with the bat, David Warner has faced repeated questions about both his place in the Australian side and his mooted plans to retire after next year’s SCG Test against Pakistan.

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The latest rumours suggested the 36-year-old and Steve Smith were planning to pull the pin after the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval starting on Thursday.

Warner laughed off the latest claims and now his high profile wife Candice Warner has also attempted to put them to bed.

“If Davey is going to retire I haven’t heard anything,” she said on Fox Sports.

“But I’m pretty sure he made it clear at the start of the series that if he can and if he’s playing good enough cricket Sydney will be his last (Test). 

David Warner and wife Candice have both refuted any imminent retirement talk. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“I thought he put that to bed a month or so ago.

“In regard to Steve Smith, who knows? He’s one of those players who plays one series at a time.”

The rumour mill this time around was sparked by ex-England captain Michael Vaughan, who teased the potential double retirement during the extended rain delays in the 4th Test.

”The whisper was, and I have no idea where they’re getting this whisper, but that Warner, if he plays at The Oval, it’ll probably be his last,” Vaughan said.

“Again, I’m not too sure where they’ve got that. And quite a strong whisper was about Steve Smith that it could be his last time out for Australia at The Oval as well.

Warner has experienced another disappointing Test series to date. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“Again, I’ve not seen that personally, but it’s just the whisper and the gossip.”

Whether Warner deserves to retain his place for the fifth Test and beyond is a matter for debate, with the opener passing 50 just once in this year’s Ashes and averaging 25.12.

The Sydneysider was bullish when asked about his form, stating his belief he has “contributed well” as the Australians retained the Ashes once more.

He was also forced to hose down suggestions he was going to retire sooner when Warner faced the press this week.

You get the feeling that given his comments in the past 24 hours David Warner is putting more pressure on the AUS selectors than he is on ENG’s bowlers

🏏 #Ashes#ENGvAUS

— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) July 25, 2023

“I don’t have an announcement,” he said.

“For me it’s about trying to work hard in the nets as I did today and, if selected, go out there and play and try and win an Ashes series.

“I came here last time and it was a draw. Hopefully, we can go away with a series win and then that’ll be a fitting Ashes campaign for us and a fitting tour over here in England with the World Test Championship as well.

“We’re here as a group and we’re united and hopefully we can achieve that.”

Originally published as Candice swats aside David Warner Ashes retirement rumours