Australia's David Warner has quashed the claims that he will be retiring after The Oval Test.
Despite having a sub-standard Ashes 2023 series, Australian opening batter David Warner isn't letting down his guard. The experienced batter who has admitted to retiring from Test cricket, said that currently he is focused on his side to end the 22-year Ashes drought and win the series.
Warner will be hanging up his boots from Test cricket following the series against Pakistan this Aussie summer wherein the 36-year old southpaw will play his final Test match at Sydney, his hometown.
Speaking to the reporters, ahead of the final Ashes 2023 Test, Warner wasn't fussed about the retirement plans. "No, not at all," Warner said at The Oval when asked if he had considered making it his final Test. "I haven't seen anything…I don't have an announcement. 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," Warner said.
"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."
Warner has managed to score mere 201 runs at 25.12 average in the four Ashes Tests including the 43 and 1 in the World Test Championship (WTC 2023) final against India. It's a stark improvement for Warner, who managed to average a paltry 9.50 in the 2019 Ashes series. However, this means Warner's overall Test return since the beginning of 2021 is 28.26 which includes a double century against South Africa.
Warner feels he is still making a strong contribution to the team and is confident of repeating the form at The Oval.
“I’ve probably left a few runs out there but in saying that I’ve played a lot better than what I did last time (in 2019)," Warner said.
"I’ve got in good positions, I’m looking to score, I’ve had a couple of unlucky dismissals and then dismissals where I’ve tried to negate the swing or the seam and it’s caught the outside edge of the bat.
“So for me, I feel like I’m in a good space, contributed well, and as a batting unit we’re all about partnerships. And I think the partnerships that we’ve had in key moments of this series so far, have actually worked very well for us as a team.”
The final Ashes 2023 Test begins on July 27 at The Oval. Australia have already retained the Urn and lead the 5-match series 2-1.