'The Champions Trophy isn't too far away': David Warner baits Australian public with fresh comeback offer
David Warner has baited the Australian public with another loopy part-time leg-spinner, declaring in jest that he's available for this year's Champions Trophy.
Warner, now 38, left many rolling their eyes and scoffing when he announced in an apparently "dead serious" interview with News Corp on the cusp of the recently finished Test series against India that he would answer an SOS call from selectors.
During the Sydney Thunder's clash with the Brisbane Heat on Monday night, which the Queensland franchise won by five wickets, the champion opener was again at his antagonising best.
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"I'm happily retired, if the rest of the world want to know that, from all forms of the game [in] international cricket," Warner told Seven while mic'd up in the field.
Aaron Finch, a former opening partner of Warner's in limited-overs cricket, chimed in from the commentary box.
"A couple of weeks ago you were putting your hand up to open the batting again!" Finch said.
David Warner works the ball to the leg side during the Sydney Thunder's match against the Brisbane Heat. Getty
Then came Warner's juicy part-time leggie.
"The Champions Trophy isn't too far away," he quipped, prompting a barrel of laughs in the commentary box.
"I'll put my hand up again for that if they're looking for someone."
Former international cricketer Callum Ferguson laughed it off as a "grenade".
"That's brilliant, Davey," Ferguson said.
"My phone's always on," Warner added.
The 50-over Champions Trophy tournament will be hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates across February and March.
Warner played his last one-day international in the final of the 2023 World Cup, in which Australia defeated India in Ahmedabad.
The left-hander featured in his last Test match against Pakistan at the SCG in January 2024, before rounding out his T20 international career in the 20-over World Cup in the Caribbean in June.
