Australian opener David Warner bid farewell to his 15-year international cricket career after Afghanistan recorded a victory over Bangladesh in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 on Tuesday, eliminating the Kangaroos from the tournament.
The decision comes as Afghanistan's latest win marked Australia's exit from the tournament at the Super 8 stage, confirming a subdued farewell for Warner.
Appearing in 110 T20I innings, the 37-year-old opening batsman scored 3,277 runs, including one century and 28 half-centuries, at a formidable strike rate of 142.47.
He had already announced that the 2024 T20 World Cup would be his last tournament and had played his last ODI in November's World Cup final over India, while his last Test was against Pakistan in January.
Before Afghanistan's match against Bangladesh, pacer Josh Hazlewood had stated that the timing of Warner's dismissal by his teammates would depend on the result of the match itself.
“Nothing has been said yet,” Hazlewood said. “You could say after this [press conference] before [evening] game, but I think we'll wait until after the game and then [acknowledge] “The career he has had has been incredible. He will definitely be missed in the group, on the field and off the field. An incredible career in all formats.”
On parting ways with Warner, Hazlewood said: “We've had a bit of a taste of this. It's been a slow process with Test cricket and ODI cricket, and now T20. To life without him, we've gotten a little used to it.” a bit in New Zealand it's always different when you lose a player who's been there for so long, but we'll move on and move on.”
Speaking before Australia's exit from the World Cup, Warner's initial partner Travis Head said it would be a “disappointing” way for Warner's career to end.
“We will be disappointed if it ends like this, where we will have to watch another match. A lot has been said about what he has contributed to Australian cricket at the top of the order in all formats,” Head said.
“He is considered our best multi-format player. We will miss him at the top of the order, but hopefully [tonight] It is not the end. We'll wait and see, but we'll fire him tonight if that's the case later. He may be a little late if the match ends the way it has. But a lot has been said about how good Davey has been at the top of the order.”
