David Warner gave up Test retirement option as he wants to give a shot in Ashes selection: Candice Warner

Many experts, including Australian batting legend Ricky Ponting, believe Warner should have ended his red-ball career on a high note following the Sydney Test against South Africa earlier this year. Rumours are rife that veteran opener David Warner might have played his last Test for Australia in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

In the midst of the speculation, Warner’s wife Candice has claimed that the southpaw forewent a farewell in Sydney in order to play in the Ashes in 2023.

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Warner’s Test future was called into question after he returned home with a fractured elbow following the second Test against India in Delhi. Since 2022, his Test form has been a source of concern. In 14 matches, the veteran opener has scored 607 runs at 26.39, including a double-century against South Africa on Boxing Day.

However, the left-hander traveled to India for the four-match Test series and batted in three innings, scoring 1, 10, and 15. He didn’t appear to be at ease against the spinners.

“David still has a burning desire to open the batting for Australia. There’s still a lot of things that he wants to achieve that he hasn’t achieved,” Candice Warner told Yahoo Sport Australia.

“And clearly one of those would be to perform at the best he possibly can in England against the Dukes ball. Whether the selectors and the coach allows him that, I don’t know. But I do know he still has that desire and that hunger to continue.

“He’d love to go out on his terms but you’re not always afforded that opportunity and David fully realises 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 the Ashes and then we’ll just see.”

Candice also stated that Warner is fully committed to playing cricket for Australia and has no plans to retire.