Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting goes harsh on David Warner

Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting said that David Warner wasted the clear opportunity for a perfect retirement after his double century against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test. Ponting said that Warner should have pulled the plug in the Sydney Test, which was his 101st Test.

On his return, Warner said, “I’ve always said I’m playing to 2024; if the selectors feel that I’m not worthy of my spot (in Tests), then so be it, and I can push on to the white-ball stuff. I’ve got the next 12 months, a lot of cricket ahead for the team, and if I can keep scoring runs and putting my best foot forward for the team and help my spot, it’d be great for the team.”

Responding to this, Ponting told a foreign Radio Channel, “I think I’ve heard him talk before about their cycle. This current cycle will finish after the World Test Championship, which is the week before the first Ashes Test, and I would think all going well that they want to get David through until the end of that Test match at least.”

Also, he added, “It’s up to him, though. The only currency you have as a batsman is runs, and if you’re not scoring any, you leave yourself open.”

Warner scored 1, 10, and 15 in the first two ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests before being forced to return home from India due to an elbow injury. In his last 20 Test innings, the 36-year-old has just twice reached 50. In light of this year's Ashes in England, questions about the left-hander's position on the squad are already being raised.

Warner had a terrible time during the 2019 series in England, averaging only 9.5 runs across the five Test matches, including three ducks, and being removed seven times by Stuart Broad.

Discussing Warner’s retirement, Ponting said, “For him to finish the way he deserves to, the obvious thing for me was maybe to pull the pin after Sydney. He got 200 in Melbourne, played his 100th Test, played his 101 Test in Sydney, his home ground, and maybe finish there.”

“The last thing he deserved is to be away on tour, get into the middle of a series, and get dropped, and his career is over. That would be an awful way for him to finish.” He added.

As Warner left the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the middle, the Aussies are behind from 2-0. However, the guests are now in a comfortable position to win the third test of the series, as they need only 76 runs to win.