David Warner is so excited about playing on the big stage that he’s aiming for three World Cups in the next two years.
While the captaincy window has closed considerably following the appointing of Pat Cummins as one-day skipper this week, it hasn’t been slammed shut as Warner aims for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Captain or not, if Warner can stretch his international career that far he will add a unique moment to his career for a man who has done just about everything in cricket – representing Australia in the United States, which is hosting the event with the West Indies.
“I’ll keep playing T20s,” said Warner, who claimed he is fully focused on the rapidly approaching T20 World Cup in Australia, not Cricket Australia’s decision to review his captaincy ban. Australia open the Super 12 stage of the tournament against New Zealand at a sold-out SCG on Saturday.
“I’ll look to try and get to the 2024 World Cup. And I’ve got my goal set on playing next year in the 50-over World Cup [in India]. So for now we’ll see how much Test cricket I’ve got left in me after this summer coming up and winter away.
“So from there that will make up my mind whether I’ll continue to play Test cricket and all three forms.”
David Warner with wife Candice and their children.
Next year will have a strong bearing on how far Warner progresses in the traditional five-day format.
Australia will tour India for four Tests, where Warner averages 24, and England, where he averages 26, including 95 runs at 9.5 during the last Ashes tour when Stuart Broad got the better of him by far.
The dashing left-handed opener will be 36 next week, a time when cricketers may consider winding back their commitments, but Warner has unfinished business.
He also has significant records pending. Sitting on 95 T20 internationals and 2850 runs, he should join captain Aaron Finch as the second Australia to reach a hundred T20 matches and 3000 runs during the next few weeks.
Warner also needs four more Tests to reach a century of matches and 183 runs for 8000. With his 138 one-day internationals, Warner looks set to be the only Australian with 100 games in all three formats by the end of the summer.
This goes with an additional 332 T20 games, mostly in the IPL. Warner can’t get enough cricket.
“Obviously there are some massive milestones,” he said. “I don’t like doing it, but you’ve sort of got to credit yourself in the way that I’ve managed to keep myself on the park. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
And the secret to longevity he says is fitness, not traditional training. Playing so much, he believes in less cricket training not more, and unlike most of Australia’s batters, doesn’t have a hit at the optional practice sessions a day before matches.
David Warner is aiming for three World Cups in the next two years.Credit:Getty
“I don’t work too much on my skills these days, I work harder on keeping as fit as I can and keeping as agile as I can. They’re the most important things.
“I think the longevity in the game is an important thing. If you want to play all three forms, you’ve got to remain fit and strong. And I’ve managed to do that.”
For this Warner says his wife Candice, a former ironwoman, has played a central role.
“Obviously, a lot of credit goes to my wife, who keeps pushing me to my limits to keep training as much as I can,” he said.
“I’ve got a great running partner and a great training partner there at home. So that keeps me motivated as well.
“I give 100% all the time every time I go onto the field, so that helps.
“When you go for a run by yourself, it just becomes a bit of a head stretch. You start talking yourself out of it. But with someone there training by your side it’s awesome.”
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