DAVID Warner hasn’t but felt these nagging ideas gamers near the top get, the sensation that it’s time and says he “doesn’t feel 36”.
So the star Australian opener was fast to close down any speak of an SCG swan track within the third Test in Sydney, adamant he’s obtained excursions to India and England on his radar, with the selectors’ urgings pushing him on.
Warner blasted what he thought of a near-career greatest innings as he pounded 200 in opposition to South Africa on the MCG, in his a centesimal Test, an effort boosted on his private listing due to the circumstances through which it was made.
Not simply the furnace-like 38C warmth, but additionally the pre-game turmoil round his management ban and the aborted problem to have it lifted, plus his lack of batting output in 2022, whereas additionally having not rating a Test hundred in additional than 1000 days.
But Warner was adamant he was by no means out of shape, simply “out of runs” and his innings backed up his perception he has extra to present in 2023 as Australia goes to India in February earlier than an Ashes collection in the midst of the yr.
“Yeah, 100 per cent, definitely,” Warner stated when requested post-match about his plans to maintain enjoying past the Sydney Test.
“I don’t feel 36. I’m running faster than a lot of these youngsters in here. So when they catch up to me that I might think about pulling the pin.
“But look, I think the extra motivation for me is winning in India, and completely winning a series in England. I’ve been told by the coach and the selectors they’d like me to be there.”
Warner conceded there have been “doubts” earlier than the South Africa collection started about not simply his future however his potential to attain, his thoughts additionally clouded by off area points.
But unburdened by them now, his management problem “parked” completely, Warner is adamant he’s not feeling any pull in direction of retirement, with issues nonetheless to realize, together with addressing his private horror Ashes in England in 2019.
“Obviously, there was a lot of stuff before this series going on through my mind and was there doubts here? Of course,” he stated.
“But for me, it was about just going out there and knowing that I’ve still got that hunger and determination because every time I rock up a training, I’ve got it.
“And people keep telling me you’ll know when it’s time and I haven’t really felt that at all yet, so I’m still enjoying it. I still know what energy I can bring to the team.
“I think once I start losing that spark and energy around training, and you know taking the mickey out of people, playing some jokes here and there and pranks. I think that’s when I probably know it’s time.”
Warner rated his 200, simply the third time in 100 Tests he’s reached the mark, as “one of my best innings for sure”.
“You’ve played 100 games and you know, people talking about retirement and you know, could be my last innings and what not,” he stated.
“You can probably say it is I’d say the way that I went about it, you know, with that pressure behind me, I think it has to be definitely one of my best innings for sure.”
