David Warner has set his sights on the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas as a possible swansong to his international career. As he prepares to return to the Sydney Thunder for the KFC BBL|12 season, Warner hopes to play a key role in helping the team secure the top spot.
On Friday night, Warner will make his first appearance in the Big Bash in nine years as he takes on the Perth Scorchers at the Sydney Showground Stadium. He signed a two-year deal with the Thunder in August, returning to the tournament for the first time since December 2013.
Although his participation next summer may be limited due to scheduled Test series against Pakistan and the West Indies, Warner is one of five Australia Test stars set to return to the Big Bash over the weekend. The Adelaide Strikers duo of Travis Head and Alex Carey will take on the Brisbane Heat on Saturday night, and the Sydney Sixers pair of Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon will make their first appearances of the season against the Scorchers on Sunday night.
The return to the Big Bash was not a successful one for the Brisbane Heat trio of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Matthew Renshaw, as they were defeated by the reigning champions, the Perth Scorchers, at the Gabba last night. When asked about the match, Warner jokingly said, "I didn't actually see much of last night, I saw the strike rates though. Hopefully, I can improve on those strike rates."
Warner's goal for his five-game stint in the BBL|12 is to put in some good performances and help the team reach the top of the ladder. "We're fourth at the moment, so the guys have been playing well. We've had some injuries, and if I can contribute in any way, it'd be awesome," he said.
The future of Warner's international career has been a topic of discussion this summer, and he has indicated that the next 12 months could be his last for Australia. He stated, "I've signed (with the Thunder) for this year and next year, and it's my time to contribute and give back. I've got that time to do that now... (this will) most likely be my last year of my international career. I've got my sights set on the 2024 (T20) World Cup as well, so finishing in the Americas, that'd be nice to top it off with a win over there, pending selection."
Smith, who is also returning to the Big Bash, has not given much thought to his T20 international future, having played just one game during Australia's home World Cup campaign last year. He was replaced by Hurricanes power-hitter Tim David.
In summary, Warner's focus is on helping the Sydney Thunder secure the top spot in the KFC BBL|12 season, while also aiming to win the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas as a potential end to his international career. He will be joined by four other Australia Test stars as they return to the Big Bash over the weekend, all with the goal of putting in strong performances and leading their teams to the top of the ladder.
