Aussie legend says 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 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 on 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 in the first Test against South Africa continued in Brisbane
The 36-year-old scored 105 runs in the first three Tests of the summer at an average of 17.5 and has now reached 27 innings since the 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 is ‘time’ for the opener to call time on his Test career.
‘I think he is thinking and possibly should be [retire] at the end of the Sydney Test,’ he told SEN Breakfast on Monday morning.
‘We are not talking about David Warner in the last innings, we are talking about David Warner in the last two years, he has not been the player he was then.
Kagiso Rabada removed Warner in both his innings at the Gabba in the first Test
Warner averages 21.64 this year and has not made a Test century since January 2020
‘That suggests to me that if David finds form again, it won’t take long. We have a sample area for a long time where things are not up to standard.
‘I just think it’s time.’
Warner has averaged 25.11 since his last Test ton and 21.64 this year, with his last half-century coming in the third Test against Pakistan in March.
The 36-year-old averaged 24.25 in India and 26.04 in England, where Australia had not 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 is running out of opportunities to score runs with only the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Day Test in Sydney remaining on the calendar this summer.
Warner has indicated his desire to play in red-ball cricket until the end of next year’s Ashes and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes he deserves to bow out on his own terms.
‘He’s a champion player — you never write off champion players,’ Ponting told Channel 7 on Sunday.
‘When he’s done, he deserves to be out of his term. He has been a wonderful stalwart for Australian cricket.’
‘He deserves the chance to finish the way he wants to finish.’
Warner averages 26.04 in England but managed just 84 runs in 10 innings on his last visit in 2019
Warner was dismissed seven times by Stuart Broad during the last Ashes tour in 2019
However, Ponting admitted that Warned could also be dropped midway through the tour of India or England.
‘I don’t want to see him go on an Indian tour or the start of an Ashes tour and then get the pat on the back,’ he said.
‘That would be a disappointing way to end his career.
‘Maybe after the Sydney Test. Let’s wait and see. Also, I hope he gets some runs between now and then.’
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