David Warner retirement hint after international fixture chaos
Aussie cricketer David Warner has hinted coronavirus restrictions could force him to reconsider his future.
The 33-year-old says the forecast of the international cricket schedule being derailed by coronavirus restrictions leaves him with the tough decision of needing to choose between his career and his family.
The star opener admits he has to seriously contemplate his priorities while facing the prospect of being locked away from his wife Candice and their three daughters, Indi Rae, Ivy Mae and Isla Rose, for months at a time.
Rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, international cricket is facing a future where international fixtures can only be staged when players are locked in quarantine hubs where they are separated from the public and their loved ones.
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Warner has told Cricinfo he is already reconsidering his busy schedule, which includes a limited-overs Tour of England in September, an entire Indian Premier League campaign in the United Arab Emirates and a 2020-21 Australian summer of cricket, which features a blockbuster four-test series with India.
Warner has hinted he could ultimately elect to give up some of his playing responsibilities if it means being able to spend more time with his young family.
“Obviously three daughters and my wife, who I owe a lot to, has been a big part of my playing career,” he said.
Australia’s David Warner has plenty of fire in the belly.Source:AFP
“You’ve always got to look out for your family first, and with cricket and these unprecedented times, you’ve got to weigh up these decisions. Look, at the moment, I’ll keep continuing to aim for that.
“Obviously the T20 [World Cup] is not here at home, which would have been ideal to play that and win that here. Now that gets pushed back. I will have to have a rethink about that when it comes to India.
“I’ll see where I am and where the girls are at with school as well. A lot of that is a big part of my decision. It’s not just when the games are being played and how much cricket’s being played. It’s a big family decision for myself. There are times when you go away and miss your family a lot and at the moment with all these biosecurity measures that are in place, we’re going to not be able to have the luxury of our families coming away with us now and it could be for the foreseeable future.
“As the prime minister [Scott Morrison] said, we might not be able to go overseas or visitors won’t be able to come into Australia. They are things that we need to play by year and if and when I do make that decision, it’ll be predominantly a family decision.”
Retirement might not be a bad option.Source:Supplied
Warner is particularly concerned about this summer’s Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG.
With the number of active coronavirus cases in Victoria continuing to climb, it is the most at-risk event on the summer schedule.
The match starting on December 26 is regarded as the highlight of Australia’s home season, played before 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and huge television audiences.
But Warner said shifting venues was a real possibility, with Melbourne currently in partial lockdown as Victoria state struggles to contain a second wave of virus infections.
“It’s out of our control at the moment. Whatever happens, if you put something in place now, it’s going to change tomorrow,” he said.
“It’s difficult to process. We’re just going to have to wait and, yeah, you might see the first Boxing Day Test not in Melbourne.”
— with AFP
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