After retaining the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead inside 12 days at the MCG on Tuesday, Australia’s David Warner stated that defeating India in their own backyard and winning the Ashes series in England in 2023 are the two important milestones he is eyeing before quitting from Test cricket.
“We still haven’t beaten India in India. That would be nice to do. And obviously, England away, we had a drawn series in 2019, but hopefully, if I managed to get that chance and opportunity, I might think about going back,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Warner as saying.
The 35-year-old has been in terrific form for the last few months. Warner won the player-of-the-tournament award in T20 World Cup 2021 and was one of the main reasons behind Australia’s title triumph. In the ongoing Ashes series, David Warner has scored 240 runs at an average of 60 in three matches including two half-centuries.
David Warner drawing inspiration from James Anderson
Warner would turn 37 by the next Ashes trip to England, but he stated that age is not a barrier for playing cricket and he lauded England bowler James Anderson for establishing a very high standard in Test cricket.
“I think James Anderson sets the benchmark for older guys these days. We look up to him as we’re getting on in our days. But for me, it’s about performing to the best of my ability and putting runs on the board. In the first two Tests, I actually look like a proper batsman, it’s almost like I’ve played my career the other way and had to knuckle down and respect the bowling and the line and lengths that they were bowling and obviously, the hundred eluded me. I feel in good touch. As I said, I was out of runs not out of form, so hopefully, I can put some more numbers on the board leading into this new year,” David Warner said.
Australia retained the Ashes urn with an innings and 14-run win over England in the third test in Melbourne on Tuesday. Debutant Scott Boland picked up 6/7 in four overs and England was bundled out for just 68 in their second innings on Day 3. Australia retained the Ashes Urn after playing just for just 11 days in the 5-match Test series Down Under. Scott Boland created a new record for the fewest number of runs conceded while picking up a 5-wicket haul on Test debut (7 runs). He has gone past Australia’s Charles Turner who picked up a 5-wicket haul for 15 runs against England in 1887.