Warner to reassess future after summer

David Warner will reassess his future at the end of the Test summer, with the opener likely to be the first of the current team to retire from red-ball cricket.

Warner indicated earlier this month he could retire from Test cricket within a year, while eying the chance to play on in white-ball cricket until the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Part of those plans would include maiden series victories for Warner in India and England next season, with the one-day World Cup later in the year also a goal.

Australia has not had a retirement from the Test team since Mitchell Johnson in 2015, but a fresh batch of exits loom in coming years.

Warner and opening partner Usman Khawaja are aged 36 and 35, Nathan Lyon is 34, Steve Smith 33 and Mitchell Starc 32.

Asked whether this could be his last Test summer on Australian soil ahead of Wednesday series opener against West Indies in Perth, Warner responded: "They're the whispers. 

"I did make some comments but these legs are still fresh. I'm still scoring runs. 

"I'll have to assess again at the end of the season and speak to the family. 

"I've got three beautiful young girls and my wife at home has sacrificed a lot, so there's a lot of things I have to weigh up. 

"But I'm still here for the 2024 World Cup – so look out."

If this summer is to be Warner's last at home, it will be punctuated by a milestone, with the opener on track to bring up 100 Tests at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Warner's decision could also be form-dependent.

He showed signs of his best in the 3-0 one-day series win over England last week, but has not scored a Test century since January, 2020.

The left-hander averages 24.25 in India, and while Australia retained the Ashes through a drawn series in England in 2019, Warner struggled with just 95 runs at 9.5.

"I've got to take each series as it comes. I've got to keep scoring runs, otherwise you people will start talking about retirement," Warner told reporters.

"I'm enjoying where I am at the moment, enjoying the training, enjoying the youngsters coming into the group. 

"It's about helping the team the best I can, whether it's on the field or off the field. I enjoy that responsibility."

Regardless though, Warner said he was driven by wanting success in the two coming away Test series.

"Winning in India is key. We've had a lot of series over there and we haven't won a lot of Test matches," he said.

"England is another one – we retained (the Ashes) last time, but to win over there would be awesome.

"We've got the World Test Championship ...There's a lot to look forward to but we assess it game-by-game as a team."