Veteran Australian opener David Warner stated on Friday that he intends to continue playing Twenty20 matches through the 2024 World Cup, but that he will decide on his Test career over the course of the next year.
Warner, who turns 36 the next week, has played 96 Tests, 138 ODIs, and 95 T20s while consistently manning the top of the order for more than a decade, with the exception of a one-year suspension for ball-tampering in 2018.
According to him, he has no immediate plans to retire and is instead focused on Australia’s defense of their T20 world championship, which begins on Saturday against New Zealand in Sydney.
“I’ll keep playing T20s. I’ll look to try and get to the 2024 World Cup,” he said, referring to the event being co-hosted by the United States and West Indies.
“And I’ve got my goal set on playing next year in the 50-over World Cup (in India).
“So for now we’ll see how much Test cricket I’ve got left in me after this summer coming up and winter away. From there that will make up my mind whether I’ll continue to play Test cricket and all three forms.”
In 2009, the same year he played his maiden ODI, Warner made his T20 debut. His Test career followed two years later, and he has since established himself as one of cricket’s best all-around performers.
Instead of always attempting to improve his batting technique, he claimed that fitness was the key to his longevity.
“I don’t work too much on my skills these days, I work harder on keeping as fit as I can and keeping as agile as I can. They’re the most important things,” he said.
“I think the longevity in the game is an important thing. If you want to play all three forms, you’ve got to remain fit and strong. And I’ve managed to do that.”
