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'Have to rethink': David Warner's stunning retirement hint

AB Medallist David Warner poses with his wife Candice Warner after winning the AB Medal.
AB Medallist David Warner and his wife Candice Warner. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

David Warner has hinted he will ‘re-think’ his playing future after admitting the current global climate has forced him to start thinking about retirement.

Warner will be embracing for a Summer of cricket like no one has ever seen before.

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The opener and some teammates will prepare for Australia's Test series against India by playing more than two months of white-ball cricket in foreign biosecurity bubbles, rather than quarantining at home.

Warner and other three-format stars, like Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, are expected to travel to England for a limited-overs series in September.

They will return home via the Indian Premier League, which is set to wrap up on November 8 or 10 and be staged entirely in the United Arab Emirates.

But Warner admitted the busy schedule will probably prompt a re-think about his role in the Australian team.

“Obviously three daughters and my wife, who I owe a lot to, has been a big part of my playing career,” he told ESPN CricketInfo.

“You’ve always got to look out for your family first, and with cricket and these unprecedented times, you’ve got to weigh up these decisions. Look, at the moment, I’ll keep continuing to aim for that.

“Obviously the T20 [World Cup] is not here at home, which would have been ideal to play that and win that here. Now that gets pushed back. I will have to have a rethink about that when it comes to India.”

Warner admits players need to adapt

Warner remains uncertain whether Australia's one-off Test against Afghanistan in Perth on November 21-25 will go ahead, while he highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic has cast doubt on the Sheffield Shield.

"We're going to have a lack of red-ball cricket preparation (before facing India)... it's going to be challenging," Warner told reporters.

"Usually you have a couple of Shield games leading into a Test series.

"How is Victoria going to be able to start Shield cricket down there? At the moment, it seems like it'll be impossible."

Quarantine periods and interstate-travel restrictions could also make it difficult for players to be released and/or added to the Test squad during Australia's four-match series against Virat Kohli's side, which is slated to start on December 3.

"If there's no Shield cricket being played up until Christmas, it doesn't give anyone else an opportunity to (make a case to) be picked," Warner said.

David Warner hits a shot during the series between Australia and New Zealand.
David Warner bats during game one of the One Day International series between Australia and New Zealand. (Photo by Jason McCawley - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

"We'll have to bring a person in with a lack of red-ball preparation.

"That's foreign to all of us, it doesn't really happen.

"We're just going to have to adapt."

Cricket Australia is in negotiations with relevant authorities regarding the mandatory 14-day quarantine period that all Australians returning home must serve - seeking permission for Warner and teammates to hit the nets while isolating in a hotel.

Warner suggested the Aussies are ready for potential schedule changes that could include shifting the first Test to Perth and/or the Boxing Day Test away from the MCG.

"It's out of our hands," he said.

"We can learn from the AFL and NRL as well about shifting teams or competitions.

"Whether it's state cricket or some of the international games up to Queensland, into areas where it is COVID-safe and we can lock down."