Yuvaraja Karunakaran

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David Warner 2023 World Cup
ODI World Cup 2023: David Warner To Skip Australia Central Contract, Targets 2024 T20 World Cup To Continue White-Ball Career

Despite announcing his retirement from Test cricket in January 2024, star opener David Warner has not ruled out playing white-ball cricket for Australia until the next World Cup in 2027. He cited the examples of Brad Hogg, Chris Gayle, and Shoaib Malik, who played limited-overs cricket into their 40s. South Africa and Australia will play in the semi-final 2 on Thursday.

David Warner insists he will think about his future after the 2024 T20 World Cup

Star Australia opener David Warner has expressed an interest in continuing his career in white-ball cricket, even up to the 2027 World Cup, despite his impending retirement from Test cricket in January. Warner, who will be participating in his third World Cup semi-final on Thursday against South Africa, cited several players, such as Brad Hogg, Chris Gayle, and Shoaib Malik, who continued playing limited-overs cricket into their 40s. 

"Bradley Hogg played until he was past 40 [43 in the Big Bash]. Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik did the same thing. I'm still feeling fit. I'll have to give myself a little bit of time off after this summer to actually think about all of that first. My goal is still to set my sights on playing the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean first [in June]. And I think from there, I'll probably decide what I'm going to do with white-ball cricket," David Warner said.

David Warner stated that he still feels fit and hopes to set his sights on playing in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean next June. He acknowledged several factors to consider, including contracting systems involving sponsors and other concerns. He has decided not to accept a central Cricket Australia contract next year, preferring to work as a freelancer to avoid taking contracts from young players. 

Warner added that being legally bound by a contracting system with sponsors and other factors can be a pain in the backside, especially given the stage of his career. In June, Warner announced his intention to retire from Test cricket against Pakistan in early January at Sydney Cricket Ground. However, given his poor recent form in the longest format, some have considered this presumptuous, and he has not heard yet whether he will get his wish.

David Warner is Australia's highest run-getter, with 499 runs in nine matches at 55.44. He has slammed two centuries, top-scoring in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with 165 against Pakistan in Bangalore. After starting their 2023 World Cup campaign with two losses, Australia won seven on the bounce to qualify for the semi-finals. South Africa and Australia will play in the semi-final 2 on Thursday. The Proteas had thrashed the Men from Down Under by 134 runs in the league stage match last month.