Former Australia Women’s captain Lisa Sthalekar has asked that the past be left in the past, as she was incensed by retired batsman David Warner’s suggestion that he would consider playing again for the Australian Test team before the exciting Border-Gavaskar trophy series.
As things stand, Australian cricket is facing a huge dilemma as to who will take on the job of opening the batting when they face India. Many names have been thrown around including, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Konstas, Marcus Harris and even Josh Inglis to be a partner for Usman Khawaja.
In response to the AUS issue, David Warner had stated that he is going to put away his Test retirement and come back in case the team requires him in filling a position for the Five Test match series with India.
“I retired from the game for the right reasons and wanted to stay retired. But if they are in dire conditions and looking for a savior, I’ll raise my hand,” Warner said explaining his stance. He also claimed that he teased coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey regarding the situation by telling their line-up about it to them.
“I had a chat with Torch (McDonald) and the message I got from him was, ‘you retired,’ ” Warner laughed. “I think he doesn’t want to give me the satisfaction of him begging, ‘will you come back?’”
However, those comments did not resonate well with Sthalekar, a former Australian women’s vice-captain, who insisted that there should be no discussion about the possibility of the 37-year old returning to play cricket with the Australian team as a selection option for George Bailey or Pat Cummins.
“What baffles me is that his final performance was last summer as he wanted to say goodbye and retire on his own terms,” wrote Sthalekar in her piece for The Nightly.
“Some might say that because of that allowance, the team is in this situation as selectors didn’t use those Tests wisely to blood the next opener.
“Warner therefore saying let us answer the mayday call if it was to come, is another way of pushing the problem forward down the line. With England coming out next summer, enough is enough.”
Warner adamantly announced the retirement of his red-ball format of cricket after the the recent concluded three-match Test series against Pakistan held in 2024.
He retired from Test cricket having amassed 8,786 runs and made 26 one hundred’s which includes a record high of 335 not out in his career spanning international Test matches.
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