Ponting claims Warner should have retired from Tests in January despite Ashes

03 March 2023 , 09:59

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Ricky Ponting believes David Warner should have retired from Test cricket in January (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Australia legend Ricky Ponting believes David Warner should have retired from Test cricket in January, instead of trying to push through to the Ashes.

Speaking last year Warner hinted he could retire from Tests following the Ashes, but after his involvement in the ongoing tour of India was cut short due to injury there have been suggestions he may not even make it to England after Australia selector Tony Dodemaide refused to commit to Warner as part of their Ashes plans.

Since the start of 2021, the 36-year-old has scored 914 runs at an average of 29.48 and Ponting, who will coach Warner in the IPL at Delhi Capitals, believes he should have "pulled the pin" after scoring 200 against South Africa in last year's Boxing Day Test.

That innings was Warner's first century since January 2020 and he has failed to score more than 15 in his next four knocks. And Ponting feels Warner should have ended his Test career on his own terms, instead of risking getting dropped before the Ashes.

"This current cycle will finish after the World Test Championship, which is obviously the week before the first Ashes Test and I would think all going well that they want to get David through until the end of that Test match at least," Ponting told RSN.

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"It's up to him though. The only currency you have as a batsman is runs and if you're not scoring any you leave yourself open. It's happened to all of us, it happened to me.

Warner has averaged just 29.48 since the start of 2021 (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

"When you get to a certain age and it looks like your form is dropping off slightly, then the knives are sharpened and it doesn't take long. For him to finish the way he deserves to finish, the obvious thing for me was maybe to pull the pin after Sydney.

"He got 200 in Melbourne, played his 100th Test, played his 101st Test in Sydney, his home ground and maybe finish there. The last thing he deserved is to be away on a tour and get in to the middle of a series and get dropped and his career is over.

"That would be an awful way for him to finish. He's a driven little man, a pretty stubborn little bugger, so we'll see how he goes."

Matthew Cooper