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'Very difficult': David Warner's sad admission about young family

David Warner, pictured here with his young family after the second Test between Australia and New Zealand in 2019.
David Warner with his young family after the second Test between Australia and New Zealand in 2019. (Photo by Daniel Pockett - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

David Warner admits he’s weighing up the possibility of scaling back the amount of time he spends on overseas tours with the Australian cricket team.

The Australian star is considering skipping some tours in 2021 with cricket's bio-secure bubble putting a strain on how much time can be spent with family.

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Warner is nearing the end of 100 days away from his wife and three daughters, with his two-week quarantine stint in Sydney set to end on Thursday.

After leaving Australia for a white-ball series in England on August 23, Warner and 12 of his teammates flew straight to the UAE for the Indian Premier League.

They have since been whisked back into quarantine in Australia, before being reunited with their families later this week.

And he admits it’s a factor weighing on his mind ahead of an uncertain 2021, where questions remain over a COVID-19 vaccine and international travel.

Players will be able to see families in several windows during the home summer, but the year ahead is still full of time away.

Australia are scheduled to tour South Africa in February and March for three Tests, and could feature in the World Test Championship final in England in June.

That is followed by three ODIs and three T20s in late June and July, before three T20s against Sri Lanka in October leading into that format's World Cup in India.

“It’s going to be very difficult to be able to (go on all tours),” Warner, now aged 34, said.

“The past six months has been quite challenging in itself getting used to these bubbles and not having the family with me.

“There are going to be times when you can come home and have time with your family. But you have that 14 days in place you have to do beforehand.

“It’s going to be very difficult and it’s something we have to speak to coaches and selectors.

“Each individual will have to put their hand up and be brave and do that.”

David and Candice Warner, pictured here at the 2020 Cricket Australia Awards in February.
David and Candice Warner at the 2020 Cricket Australia Awards. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

David Warner to scale back ODI commitments

The veteran claimed last summer he could retire from either red or white-ball cricket by mid 2021 to prolong his career.

That was before Australia hosting the T20 World Cup was pushed back from 2020 to 2022 and after next year’s in India, owing to the pandemic.

But with the next ODI World Cup not scheduled until 2023, the opener indicated that would most likely be the format he could miss games in.

“That’s something we have identified as players and coaching staff,” Warner said.

“The preference will be the T20 stuff over the next two years. And then gearing up for the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023.”

Meanwhile Warner also revealed on Monday he would likely not feature in the Big Bash while still playing international cricket.

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