NEW DELHI: Former Australian cricketer Simon O’Donnell has expressed his disapproval of farewell Testsparticularly in the context of opening batter David Warner’s desire for a farewell Test at his home ground in Sydney against Pakistan. O’Donnell believes that players should not have the privilege of picking and choosing the venue and date for their farewell.
Warner, aged 37, had previously stated his intention to conclude his Test career during the three-Test series against Pakistan, with the final match scheduled to take place in Sydney in January.O’Donnell, airing his views on Sen Radio, remarked, “I don’t like farewell tours. I didn’t like it back in Steve Waugh’s Day or Mark Taylor’s Day. I think you’re invited to play for Australia and it’s an honour to do that.”
Expressing his reservations, O’Donnell emphasized that players should not have the right to dictate the timing of their retirement. He said, “I don’t think anyone has the right to say, ‘I’ll finish, on the 30th of June this year.'”
The discussion turned to the selection criteria for Warner’s involvement in the Test series, with O’Donnell suggesting a debate on whether Warner’s form during the Ashes or his performance in white-ball cricket should be considered. He also raised the question of Cameron Bancroft, emphasizing that the batsman has been in exceptional form and may warrant a place in the Test squad.
“Do you make him wait another summer? Because that’s what he’s going to have to do if that plan (to play Warner) goes ahead,” O’Donnell remarked, referring to Bancroft, who, along with Steve Smith and Warner, was banned for a year in connection with the ‘sandpaper-gate’ scandal in 2018.
O’Donnell concluded by stating that, in his opinion, it’s time for Warner to retire from Test cricket. He noted that while Warner’s white-ball performance is commendable, the red-ball format requires a different consideration. However, he acknowledged that the recent World Cup victory might complicate the decision-making process.
“I do in the white ball (format), no problem at all. But with the red ball, I think it’s time. But we’re in this corner, we’re just coming off a World Cup, and that’s going to muddy the waters. Everyone will say, ‘Oh yeah, what about his World Cup?’ So that buys some more time (for Warner), I think,” O’Donnell concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)
Warner, aged 37, had previously stated his intention to conclude his Test career during the three-Test series against Pakistan, with the final match scheduled to take place in Sydney in January.O’Donnell, airing his views on Sen Radio, remarked, “I don’t like farewell tours. I didn’t like it back in Steve Waugh’s Day or Mark Taylor’s Day. I think you’re invited to play for Australia and it’s an honour to do that.”
Expressing his reservations, O’Donnell emphasized that players should not have the right to dictate the timing of their retirement. He said, “I don’t think anyone has the right to say, ‘I’ll finish, on the 30th of June this year.'”
The discussion turned to the selection criteria for Warner’s involvement in the Test series, with O’Donnell suggesting a debate on whether Warner’s form during the Ashes or his performance in white-ball cricket should be considered. He also raised the question of Cameron Bancroft, emphasizing that the batsman has been in exceptional form and may warrant a place in the Test squad.
“Do you make him wait another summer? Because that’s what he’s going to have to do if that plan (to play Warner) goes ahead,” O’Donnell remarked, referring to Bancroft, who, along with Steve Smith and Warner, was banned for a year in connection with the ‘sandpaper-gate’ scandal in 2018.
O’Donnell concluded by stating that, in his opinion, it’s time for Warner to retire from Test cricket. He noted that while Warner’s white-ball performance is commendable, the red-ball format requires a different consideration. However, he acknowledged that the recent World Cup victory might complicate the decision-making process.
“I do in the white ball (format), no problem at all. But with the red ball, I think it’s time. But we’re in this corner, we’re just coming off a World Cup, and that’s going to muddy the waters. Everyone will say, ‘Oh yeah, what about his World Cup?’ So that buys some more time (for Warner), I think,” O’Donnell concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)
