Australian star David Warner's latest failure during the first Test against South Africa will continue to have rumours swirling over his future in the side, but former captain Ricky Ponting believes he should be able to go out on his terms.
Warner has struggled enormously in the red-ball format over the last 12 months, and from 18 innings throughout the 2022 calendar year, he averages just 21.64.
2021 was his second-lowest average across a calendar year at just 38.37.
While Warner himself has hinted that this could be his final home summer, he is keen on touring both India and England throughout a difficult away season in 2023, although that yet may be taken out of his hand thanks to the Sheffield Shield form of the likes of Caleb Jewell, Tim Ward, Henry Hunt and Sam Whiteman, who are all banging down the door of a Test debut.
Adding to the problems for the out of form opener is the fact he struggles he struggles enormously in both India and England, averaging 24.25 and 26.04 in the two countries respectively.
Speaking on Channel 7s coverage of the first Test against South Africa where Warner fell for a duck, Ponting said Warner deserves to go out on his own terms, but that could be after the Sydney Test, which will be the final of the summer against the Proteas.
"I think what he should be doing is being as realistic and looking to the future as he can," Ponting said on Channel 7.
"Like I said before, he deserves the chance to finish the way he wants to finish. I would hate to see him get to an Indian tour or at the start of the Ashes tour and then get the tap on the shoulder.
"That would be a disappointing way for his career to endโฆit might be after the Sydney Test. Let's wait and see. Also, I hope that he gets some runs between now and then."
The duck against South Africa came after Warner's continued struggles against the West Indies, despite the success of his teammates during that two-Test series in Perth and Adelaide.
Warner will play in the BBL for the Sydney Thunder after the South African series.
