David Warner passes baton to Fraser McGurk after announcing retirement

Following his retirement from international cricket, Australian opener David Warner shared a heartwarming post on social media, in which he passed on the baton to fire quick runs at the top for Aussies to the young, up and coming sensation Jake Fraser McGurk.

Following Australia's loss to India in the Super Eights clash of the ICC T20 World Cup and their elimination from the competition after Bangladesh's loss to Afghanistan, the curtains were finally drawn on Warner's illustrious international career. Having retired from Tests and ODIs earlier this year, Warner scored just six runs in his last international appearance. Warner did have a solid T20 WC, scoring 178 runs in seven games at an average of 29.66 and a strike rate of 139.06, with two half-centuries and best score of 56.

Warner took to Instagram, sharing a picture with Jake, writing to him, "All yours now champion".

The 22-year-old Fraser McGurk, who considers Warner as one of his idols, rose to stardom after breaking AB de Villiers' record for fastest List-A century last year in October, making a 29-ball ton for South Australia against Tasmania. Later, he followed with a breakthrough Big Bash League (BBL) season in Australia during the year-end and start of 2024, scoring 257 runs in nine matches at an average of 32.12 and a strike rate of over 158 and two half-centuries.