Follow UsAustralian opener David Warner has made it clear that he won’t be retiring from red-ball cricket after the fifth and final Ashes Test at Kennington Oval, starting on Thursday (July 27). There have been rumours that this could be his last Test but the 36-year-old just wants to focus on winning the series, which Australia are currently leading 2-1.
“No, not at all. 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,” said Warner.
"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 earlier spoken about finishing his Test career at the SCG in early January, but there are question marks over his spot in the set-up. In the ongoing Ashes series, the left-hander has scored 201 runs in eight innings at an average of 25.12, with just one 50-plus score.
Overall, Warner averages 28.27 in 24 Tests since 2021, which also includes a double ton against South Africa last year.
"I've probably left a few out there, but in saying that I've played a lot better than what I did last time. I'm looking to score. I've had a couple of unlucky dismissals and then been dismissed where I've tried to negate the swing or the seam and it's caught the outside edge of the bat,” said Warner.
"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."
Warner has surely done better than what he did in 2019. In this series, he has reached the 25-run mark five times but only has gone past 50.
"Look at the dismissal against Woakes in the first innings last Test. That one seams. If it doesn't seam, it hits the middle of the bat and that's what happens in this game. I would have been disappointed if I went forward to that and just tried to defend it. So that's how I've wanted to play. I do feel like I'm playing pretty decently."