Warner's Retirement Offer a Joke, Says Paine

Former Australian captain Tim Paine has revealed that David Warner's offer to come out of retirement for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was merely a joke. Warner had suggested his availability if Australia struggled to find an opening partner for Usman Khawaja, but Paine believes it was all in jest.

"He was not dead serious, that is Davey. How do I know? Because I spoke to him, that is how. Is that good enough for the people?" Paine told SEN.

Warner's retirement from international cricket came after Australia's disappointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup in the Super Eight stage. In his illustrious career, he amassed 8,786 runs in 112 Tests, 6,932 runs in 161 ODIs, and 3,277 runs in 110 T20Is.

Warner's absence has left a significant void in Australia's batting lineup, particularly in the opening position. With Steve Smith moving down to number four and Cameron Green sidelined with a back injury, the team has been searching for a suitable partner for Khawaja.

However, Paine's revelation suggests that Warner is not seriously considering a return. "He said, 'I got them good, haha'. Of course, that's Davey's thing. People say, 'You're not serious', I am dead serious, but he is not (about returning to cricket)," Paine added.

Warner's retirement marks the end of an era for Australian cricket. He was a key member of the teams that won the 2015 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cups, the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, and the ICC World Test Championship 2023. His aggressive batting style and exceptional fielding made him one of the most feared and respected players in the world.

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