Candice Warner Reveals Ashes Challenge Motivating Husband David Despite Retirement Talks

Candice Warner has revealed that her husband David was happy to risk a fairytale Test send-off in front of local fans in January for the chance to retain the upcoming Ashes series in England.

After returning home early from tour of India due to injury after scoring just 1, 10 and 15, on the back of two thoroughly disappointing years in Test cricket, many Australian legends are wondering if the player from 36 years old is still worthy of a place in the XI.

He will go down as one of the best openers in Australian history, and currently has 8158 runs in 103 Tests, but his recent record has left a lot to be desired of late.

Except for his double century against a weak South African attack in the Boxing Day Test, Warner has broken 50 only twice in 20 innings, last scoring 100 in January 2020.

He is averaging 29.48 since 2021, well below his career average of 45, but more worryingly, he only made 95 runs in 10 innings in the 2019 UK Ashes, which featured three Ducks and seven. layoffs to his nemesis, Stuart Broad.

David and Candice play cricket with two of their daughters at the MCG on Christmas Day last year.

Warner then went on to snap a drought-breaking double century at the Boxing Day Test, snapping a long run of poor form.

But Candice said David never considered retiring in the New Year’s Test earlier this year despite continuing to ride the wave of a 200 drought, because he has one eye on the Ashes, which will take place in England during June and July.

‘David still has a burning desire to open the batting for Australia. There are still many things that he wants to achieve that he hasn’t achieved,” he said. yahoo sports.

And clearly one of them would be to perform at his best in England against the Dukes ball. If the selectors and the coach allow him that, I don’t know. But I do know that he still has that desire and that hunger to continue.

“He would love to go out on his terms, but you don’t always get that opportunity and David realizes that.”

He could have easily retired after the Sydney test this year, but that’s not what he wants. He still wanted to contribute to the team in India and still be there at Ashes and then we’ll see.

The British-made Dukes ball is hand-sewn and is considered livelier than the Australian-made Kookaburra, which is made by machines.

However, Australian legend Ricky Ponting believes Warner missed the perfect moment to retire and the ‘knives are getting sharper’ for selectors before the Ashes.

A dejected David Warner leaves the field after being dismissed by speedy South African Kagiso Rabada in the series against South Africa in December

Candice says her husband was prepared to risk a fairy tale retirement from Test cricket to seek an Ashes spot and a potential win.

“For him to finish the way he deserves, the most obvious thing to me was maybe to get the pin out after Sydney.” He scored 200 in Melbourne, he played his 100th Test, he played his 101st Test in Sydney, his home ground and maybe he’ll end up there,” he told RSN Radio earlier this month.

Although it depends on him. The only currency you have as a batsman is runs and if you’re not scoring any, you’re left open.

“It has happened to all of us, it happened to me. When you get to a certain age and it seems your form is slipping a bit, then the knives get sharper and it doesn’t take long.’

After Travis Head made first place his own with a strong finish in the India series despite being fiendishly dismissed for the first Test, Clarke said the selectors were now caught between a rock and a hard place.

“You look silly now,” Clarke said.

‘Because all of us, former players and fans, say, ‘OK. It seems that even if I don’t agree with Travis Head’s selection or non-selection, I respect that they say “horses for courses.” OK, you’re going to go with that, great.

Candice, pictured on Ladies Day at Rosehill Racecourse earlier this month, assured cricket fans that David will continue on the T20 circuit for years to come.

‘The first test in England, how do you choose David Warner? How do they justify that if they choose Dave Warner now?

Candice was quick to allay fears that Warner would miss out on the game anyway, saying it would be playing in T20 franchises around the world.

Not just the BBL Down Under, which is struggling to match the dollar with the big leagues, the former Ironwoman who has three daughters with the cricket star, mentioned the slightly more exotic and less traditional leagues in Dubai, the United States, South Africa. and Pakistan, as well as the IPL, where he is universally adored.

“Even if he were to retire from international cricket for Australia, you’ll see David playing cricket for a few more years,” Candice said.