Just a few days before his final Test match against Pakistan at his home ground of Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Australian opener David Warner announced his retirement from one-day international cricket on Monday. On New Year’s Day morning, the two-time Cricket World Cup winner revealed the news. In 161 One-Day Internationals, the left-handed opener amassed 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 and a strike rate of 97.26. With a best score of 179, Warner has also recorded 22 hundreds and 33 fifty-five in the format. Warner, who frequently steps up in international competitions, finishes with 1,527 ICC Cricket World Cup runs at an average of 56.55, which is higher than a run per ball. On the all-time World Cup run total, only five men’s batters—including fellow countryman Ricky Ponting (1743)—are taller than him. Throughout his World Cup career, Warner has amassed six hundreds and five half-centuries.
Warner declared at his announcement, “I have got to give back to the family,” according to an ICC quote. “That (ODI retirement) was something I had said through the World Cup, get through that and winning that in India is a massive achievement.” Warner ended his career on a high note, having not only won the World Cup this year but also amassed 535 runs with a strike rate of over 108 and an average of 48.63 in 11 games, including two hundreds and two fifties. In the end, he scored the sixth-most runs during the competition. Warner’s statement did come with a disclaimer, though, as the seasoned player was willing to return for the 2025 Champions Trophy if necessary.
“I know there is a Champions Trophy coming up and if I am playing decent cricket still in two years’ time and they need someone, I am going to be available,” Warner stated. With the ICC T20 World Cup taking place in the West Indies and the USA in June of this year, Warner will still be available to play T20Is. Before making his first-class debut in January 2009 against South Africa, the 37-year-old was a limited-overs specialist for the Australian team. In the match, he hit 89 runs in 43 balls with seven fours and six sixes. A week later, he made his ODI debut against the same opponents, and in his second appearance in the format, he scored fifty runs.
