Australia opener David Warner has firmly denied the speculation about him and Steve Smith quitting test cricket following the final Ashes contest against England at the Oval starting on Thursday.

Warner clarified that he intends to play his last test in Sydney against Pakistan in January next year, but he also expressed his desire to continue playing until the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup. Despite Australia already securing the Ashes urn with a 2-1 lead going into the final test, some, including former England captain Michael Vaughan, believe that both players might retire after the Oval match.

Addressing reporters ahead of the match, Warner brushed off the retirement rumors as a “joke.” He stated, “And Smithy (is retiring) too apparently. So obviously it’s a joke. I won’t take that too seriously … I don’t have an announcement.”

Having been a constant presence at the top of the Australian batting order since his debut in 2011, Warner has accumulated 201 runs in the ongoing Ashes series, with an average of 25.12 and a top score of 66.

Reflecting on his performance, Warner admitted he might have missed some opportunities but felt he played much better compared to his previous matches. He expressed satisfaction with his contribution to the team and highlighted the effectiveness of their partnerships throughout the series.

Aware of his approaching test career’s end at the age of 36, Warner praised Matt Renshaw, backing him to excel in both test and one-day formats, similar to Australia’s great Matthew Hayden during his playing days. Warner sees Renshaw as a talented player with the ability to handle both formats comfortably and believes he will be an excellent replacement in the team.