He's eager to continue: McDonald clears air about David Warner's retirement 

David Warner will be in action against South Africa [Source: Twitter]

Australia are gearing up to take on visiting South Africa in the three-Test series starting December 17, which will see both sides fight for ICC Test Championship Table supremacy. Heading into the Test series, Australian cricket has once again been rocked by 'Sandpaper Gate', which opened after David Warner withdrew his ban appeal from Cricket Australia.

On the cricketing field too, Warner is facing a tough time in the whites, having had a poor outing against West Indies, managing just 102 runs. The 36-year-old's retirement rumors have been at an all-time high, and the left-handed batter himself spoke about leaving red-ball cricket within the next 12 months.

Since 2020, Warner has managed just 675 runs at an average of 28.12.

However, coach Andrew McDonald has ruled out of any such immediate plans by Warner during his press briefing ahead of the first Test at Gabba. 

"He's eager to continue on at this stage. He has not hinted [at] anything else. His appetite for the work - in and around training - is still there. He's busy at the crease, and you've seen signs that he is going well. He's just found different ways to get out, and sometimes that can happen,"

McDonald further stated that the management is looking forward to seeing Warner beyond the South African series as well.

"We are building towards a World Test Championship [final], and he wants to be part of that. So that's a clear focus for us, and we've got South Africa as a part of that. And then on to India."

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 is scheduled to commence on February 9, followed by The Ashes series in England.

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