‘In professional sport no one is guaranteed two or three matches’ - Steve Waugh analyses David Warner’s retirement plans

Ahead of the World Test Championship finale, star cricketer David Warner announced that the upcoming Australian summer will be his last in Test cricket. Notably, despite his trajectory going down in the longest format of the game, the team management and the selection panel backed the southpaw for the ongoing WTC final and upcoming Ashes 2023, and he has repaid their faith so far. 

The cricketer hit 43 runs off 60 deliveries in the championship final against India - which eventually set the tone for Pat Cummins-led side. Meanwhile, according to former skipper Steve Waugh, the 36-year-old will have to keep up with his form in order to retain his place till the Sydney Test against Pakistan. He believes that in professional sport, no one can guarantee that a cricketer will get an ample number of opportunities even if one fails, and thus, he gave a stern warning to Warner regarding his Test form.

“It is not a bad idea to get it out there, but that (Sydney) Test is (eight) Test matches away. In professional sport, no one is guaranteed two or three matches. It is good he has let people know his plan, but that doesn't guarantee he is going to make it through to Sydney. 

Everyone knows that as a professional cricketer, you are judged on performances, and you can't be guaranteed a spot just because you have (previously) scored a lot of runs or taken a lot of wickets. You have still got to perform. At least we have a clear picture of when he is going to finish up, and maybe for the selectors, it gives them a bit of room to plan for the future,” Waugh was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.

Notably, Warner has represented Australia in 104 Test matches, scoring 8201 runs in the process. Courtesy of his good performance with the bat in the WTC final, he is likely to play a couple of Tests in the upcoming Ashes, but if he fails to deliver, Marcus Harris is very likely to get slotted in.