Cricket fans have slammed ‘retired’ David Warner after the polarising Aussie batsman sensationally announced he is available for selection ahead of the upcoming Test series against India.
Warner, 37, seemingly played his final Test at the SCG in January against Pakistan, but has now indicated he is keen to face the new ball alongside Usman Khawaja if required.
‘I’m dead serious. Let’s be honest, the guys have played one red ball game since their last Test matches in February, so I’ve almost had the same preparation,’ Warner told News Corp.
‘Honestly, if they really needed myself for this series, I’m more than happy to play the next [Sheffield] Shield game [for NSW] and then go out there and play.
‘I did retire for the right reasons to finish the game and I wanted to finish. (But) my hand is up if they desperately need someone. I’m not going to shy away from that.’
The shock announcement enraged cricket fans on social media.
‘This guy is an unbelievable narcissist,’ one posted on X.
Another posted in response: ‘Please don’t. His farewell tour against the bottom feeders is the reason we are in this predicament.’
Cricket fans have slammed ‘retired’ David Warner (pictured with wife Candice) after he announced he is available for to play Tests against India
Warner and the Australian team made a huge deal out his final Test at the SCG in January (pictured) – leaving cricket fans fuming now that he has made a retirement U-turn
The shock announcement enraged some cricket fans on X – and one labelled Warner an ‘unbelievable narcissist’
Another asked for Warner to ‘disappear’ ahead of the series against India next month
A small minority of fans were open to the bold idea, with one feeling Warner is a ‘irreplaceable beast’ at the top of the order
A third weighed in with: ‘Can you just disappear. No one has called an SOS for you. We love life without you.’
Warner also confirmed he had been in contact with Australia men’s coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey over the proposed bombshell move.
The dashing batsman made his Test debut in 2011 against New Zealand and finished with an average of 44.59 which included 26 centuries.
If selectors overlook Warner, Victorian Marcus Harris is likely to open the batting with Khawaja.
Other options include Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw and teenage prodigy Sam Konstas.
Steve Smith will move down the order to bat at four after all-rounder Cameron Green was ruled out for six months after sustaining a stress fracture in his lower back that requires surgery.
The first Test against India in Perth begins on November 22.
