Aussie legend claims ‘it’s time’ for David Warner to RETIRE from Test cricket after his woeful form continued against South Africa and he hasn’t made a century in three years
David Warner’s Test future has come under renewed scrutiny with former all-rounder Simon O’Donnell calling for the veteran to step down after yet another dismal performance.
Warner made three in his second innings against South Africa in Brisbane on Sunday after being dismissed for a golden duck for only the second time in his career in his first dig.
While the green deck at the Gabba drew criticism after 34 wickets fell in under six sessions, it extended Warner’s miserable run of form.
David Warner’s woeful run of form continued in Brisbane in the first Test against South Africa
The 36-year-old has scored 105 runs across the first three Tests of the summer at an average of 17.5 and has now gone 27 innings since his last century in January 2020.
And with a four-Test series against India and a tour of England coming up next year, O’Donnell believes ‘it’s time’ for the opener to call time on his Test career.
‘I think he’d be contemplating and possibly should [retire] at the end of the Sydney Test,’ he told SEN Breakfast on Monday morning.
‘We’re not talking about David Warner in the last few innings, we’re talking about David Warner in the last two years, he hasn’t been the same player he was prior to then.
Kagiso Rabada removed Warner in both of his innings at the Gabba during the first Test
Warner averages 21.64 this year and hasn’t made a Test century since January 2020
‘That indicates to me that if David found form again, it’s not going to be for long. We actually have a sample area over a long period of time where things haven’t been up to standard.
‘I just think it’s time.’
Warner averages 25.11 since his last Test ton and 21.64 this year, with his last half-century dating all the way back to the third Test against Pakistan in March.
The 36-year-old averages 24.25 in India and 26.04 in England, where Australia haven’t won a series in 18 and 21 years respectively.
Former Australia all-rounder Simon O’Donnell (left), has called for Warner to retire from Test cricket, but Ricky Ponting (right) believes the opener should be given another chance
And he’s running out of chances to score runs with only the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Day Test in Sydney left on the calendar this summer.
Warner has indicated his desire to play on in red-ball cricket until at least the end of next year’s Ashes and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes he deserves to bow out on his own terms.
‘He is a champion player — you never write off champion players ever,’ Ponting told Channel 7 on Sunday.
‘When he finishes, he deserves to go out on his term. He has been a magnificent stalwart for Australian cricket.’
‘He deserves the chance to finish the way he wants to finish.’
Warner averages 26.04 in England but made only 84 runs in 10 innings in his last visit in 2019
Warner was dismissed seven times by Stuart Broad during the last Ashes tour in 2019
Ponting, however, conceded Warned could also be dropped mid-tour either in India or in England.
‘I would hate to see him get to an Indian tour or at the start of the Ashes tour and then get the tap on the shoulder,’ he said.
‘That would be a disappointing way for his career to end.
‘It might be after the Sydney Test. Let’s wait and see. Also, I hope that he gets some runs between now and then.’
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