- Dave Warner confirmed that he played his last international match in Australia
- He officially retired from Test and ODI cricket in January.
- Warner’s last series will be this year’s T20 World Cup, if selected
David Warner has confirmed he will retire from international cricket after the T20 World Cup, but he made sure his final knock for Australia at home was a memorable one.
Warner was the standout Australian player on Tuesday night as the West Indies secured a 37-run victory in the third and final T20 clash at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
West Indies posted a monster 6-220 after scorching knocks from Andre Russell (71 off 29 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (67 no off 40 balls).
In reply, Warner overcame a terrifying blow to the chin to score 81 off 49 balls and give Australia a chance to win in front of 17,018 fans.
But the 3-3 defeat, in which Aaron Hardie, Warner and Josh Inglis departed in the space of 10 balls, marked the end of Australia’s hopes, with the home team finishing on 5-183.
David Warner has confirmed that he will retire from international cricket after this year’s T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean.
The legendary opener, 37, officially retired from Test and ODI cricket in January.
The result prevented Australia from taking victory in the three-match series.
Warner retired from the Test Arena in January following Australia’s victory over Pakistan.
Before Tuesday’s T20 match against the West Indies, Warner told his teammates that it was his last international match in Australia.
Warner will feature in the upcoming T20 series in New Zealand and this year’s T20 World Cup before ending his glorious international career.
‘I’m done. It’s time for the youngsters to come forward and show their talent,” Warner replied when asked what he will do after the T20 World Cup.
‘We have extreme talent here. “We are in a good position for the future.”
Australian T20 captain Mitch Marsh paid tribute to Warner.
“It’s obviously been an incredible career for him,” he said.
Warner’s last series will be the T20 World Cup if he is selected in the team later this year.
Warner, 37, will also feature in the upcoming T20 series in New Zealand.
“I think it’s fitting that he ended up the way he did (with that hit).
‘What a servant of Australian cricket. Unfortunately we couldn’t get him a win.”
West Indies slipped to 3-17 after an early attack by debutant pacer Xavier Bartlett (2-37).
Russell arrived at the crease with his team in big trouble at 5-79 in the ninth over.
He combined with Rutherford for a 139-run stand that changed the tone of the match.
But it wasn’t until the penultimate finish, delivered by Adam Zampa, that Russell took the damage to the next level.
Russell scored 28 runs, including four sixes, during that devastating finish.
His three consecutive sixes to end the over came after Tim David bowled a catch at the boundary.
Had that catch been taken, Zampa would have had figures of 2-43 with three more balls remaining in his spell.
Instead, he finished with 1-65, the most expensive figures of his 77-match T20I career.
Warner was on 21 when a rising Russell delivery crashed into the bottom of his helmet grille.
The 37-year-old was treated on the pitch for concussion or any signs of jaw damage but was given the green light to continue.
Warner cut the next ball for four and reached his half-century in 25 balls with a big six in the ground.
But when Hardie (16 off 16) clipped Romario Shepherd on his stumps, it triggered a collapse from which Australia failed to recover.