David Warner reveals he planned a retirement from Tests at Lords, extended career until home swansong

David Warner has revealed he planned to walk away from Test cricket during the Ashes, but was encouraged by his partnership with Usman Khawaja to continue to a Sydney swansong.

David Warner is renowned for being ‘The Bull’, but in his retirement press conference he struck a gracious and appreciative tone for the vast opportunities the game has given him.

It is fitting that Warner will play his last ever Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground this week just a few kilometres away from the housing commission flats in Matraville where he was raised.

An emotional Warner paid tribute to the fallen Phillip Hughes, reflected on his deep relationship with opening partner Usman Khawaja and admits that the rapidly changing face of cricket may stop another talent like him ever following in his footsteps to play 100 Tests for Australia.

He also announced he was also retiring from one-day cricket, meaning this week’s Sydney Test really does mark the end of an era.

Wife Candice fought to hold back tears as Warner spoke and his three young daughters, Ivy, Indi and Isla also watched on from the back row – before the family last night gathered one last time on the lawns of Kirribilli House for the Prime Minister’s annual reception for the Test team.

David Warner on the SCG ahead of his final Test. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images.

Warner on Monday announced he was quitting one-day cricket as well, and revealed the mini-bombshell that he almost bowed out of Test cricket after the second Test at Lord’s last year.

“It has actually become more emotional. When I looked at Lord’s as a potential finish, I didn’t really have many emotions because I was content. But definitely it’s been emotional since Perth. Since I’ve been back in Australia and knowing that I’m playing (my final Test),” Warner said.

“Getting that 164 (in the first Test in Perth) … it hit home when people in the streets were coming up and saying, ‘well done, we support you, we back you.’

“It really means a lot. The emotions probably started then.”

Critics including Mitchell Johnson have tried to claim Warner was hanging out for a choreographed farewell on home soil, but the 37-year-old revealed he never thought he’d make it to Sydney and was actually planning to walk away from Test cricket midway through the Ashes.

Team sources have confirmed this was the case.

“Before the World Test Championship (final) in England there was a lot of talk about me and my form. I wanted to nip it in the bud early. I said my ideal to finish would be Sydney,” Warner said.

“But I actually had Lord’s pencilled in as my last Test, especially if I didn’t go as well as I did as a partnership with Uzzie at the top of the order.

“… I didn’t want to put the team or the selectors in a position where they had to think about, ‘mate, it’s time to push on.’

“Then from there, it just followed on that we played some good innings together. I didn’t have that hundred (in England) that I always wanted but eluded me in achieving.

“But as a team and as a whole we did our bit. To get this ending is awesome, but it’s not about me, it’s about us.

David Warner leaves a press conference with his daughters and wife Candice ahead of his final Test. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images.

“We’ve won the series (against Pakistan), but to win 3-0 and have a whitewash here at the SCG would be a great thing for the team.”

Warner had hinted that he might try and play on in one-day cricket past his 40th birthday and try to make it to Australia’s ODI World Cup defence in 2027 in South Africa.

However, after Australia lifted the trophy in India – Warner’s second 50-over world crown – he knew it was the perfect moment to call time.

That said, Warner will still help lead the charge for Australia at this year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and said he would not rule out accepting an SOS in two years’ time for the ODI Champions Trophy, should selectors ask.

“I’m definitely retiring from one-day cricket as well. To win in India, from where we were, was absolutely amazing.

“It does allow me to go and play some other leagues around the world and sort of get the one-day team moving forward a little bit (with fresh blood).

“I know there’s a Champions Trophy coming up. If I’m playing decent cricket in two years’ time and I’m around and they need someone, I’m going to be available.”

Warner is a player who has always polarised public opinion, but right to the very end, the Matraville Mauler says he has always been true to himself, his working class roots and his values of loyalty and honesty.

“I’ve had a few of them, where I’ve called people out (who have attacked me) and had a beer with them and they’ve changed their opinion totally,” Warner said.

“What you see is what you get. I’m very honest. I’m open. I’m always happy to have a beer with anyone that has a disagreement.

“If you don’t like what you see on TV, reach out, I’ll have a beer with you. That’s open to anyone.”

WARNER PULLS PIN ON ONE-DAY CRICKET CAREER

David Warner has announced he is also retiring from one-day cricket, meaning this week’s Sydney Test really does mark the end of an era.

The 37-year-old had hinted he may be keen to play on in 50-over cricket until the 2027 ODI World Cup where Australia would be defending their recent crown in South Africa.

However, while Warner did leave the door slightly ajar to answer an SOS for a World Cup if asked, he made it clear he was retiring from the format and allowing young players to come through.

“I’m definitely retiring from one-day cricket as well. That was something that I had said through the World Cup, get through that, and winning it in India, I think that’s a massive achievement,” Warner said. “So I’ll make that decision today, to retire from those forms, which does allow me to go and play some other leagues around the world and sort of get the one-day team moving forward a little bit.

“I know there’s a Champions Trophy coming up. If I’m playing decent cricket in two years’ time and I’m around and they need someone, I’m going to be available.”

David Warner celebrates winning a second ODI World Cup alongside Glenn Maxwell. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Warner will still play the Twenty20 World Cup later this year in the West Indies and the US, which could well be the swansong for arguably the greatest all-format player Australia has produced.

Warner had publicly floated the idea he could play on until he was 40, but said deep down he was always retiring after Australia climbed Everest and won the World Cup in India.

“It was a decision that I was very, very comfortable with. To win in India, from where we were, was absolutely amazing,” Warner said.

“The team, not just under the leadership of Patty but the coach Andrew McDonald himself, everything’s just so calm and relaxed inside the team.

“We go out there, we’re adults, we back ourselves to train to the best of our ability and then go out there and perform. There’s never any added pressure, it’s the same-old, come in, get what you have to get done. We love winning.

“When we lost two games in a row in India, the bond just got stronger with each other and it’s not by fluke or by chance that we were able to get to where we were. The heroics of Maxi, the captaincy and the skills and execution of the way that we played against India was phenomenal, and not to dismiss the Kolkata semi-final as well.”

David Warner (R) has loved life under coach Andrew McDonald (L). Picture: William West/ AFP

The left-handed great said he was still determined to play in the Big Bash League beyond this season, aiming to fit the competition around a new commentary career for Fox Cricket.

But this week’s Sydney Test still marks the end of an era for Australian cricket – with this being Warner’s 112th and final Test match.

The fact he will no longer be seen in the one-day format, where he is in the conversation for Australia’s greatest ever 50-over batsman is a seismic change.

Selectors have an enormous challenge to replace him across both formats. Warner said the talent is out there.

Originally published as David Warner reveals he planned a retirement from Tests at Lords, extended career until home swansong