After Manchester Test ended in a stalemate because of torrential rains, England and Australia are now gearing up for the final match of the ongoing 2023 Ashes series. The fifth and final Test is scheduled to begin on July 27, and with the Baggy Greens still leading 2-1, the Three Lions would look to register a win at The Oval and level the series. Australia, who have already retained the urn, would look for an outright series win against their arch-rivals in England.
Ahead of the final match, former England captain Michael Vaughan revealed that he has heard 'whispers' about Aussie bigwigs David Warner and Steve Smith retiring from Test cricket after The Oval game.
"Well it's always the case on a rainy day when the journos get a bit bored, and you start talking to a few," Vaughan said on Fox Sports.
"But the whisper was and I have no idea where they're getting this whisper, but that Warner, if he plays at The Oval, it'll probably be his last.
"Again I'm not too sure where they've got that. And quite a strong whisper was about Steve Smith that it could be his last time out for Australia at the Oval as well. Again, I've not seen that personally, but it's just the whisper and the gossip.
"It might just be the rain in Manchester that gets people talking, but that was the talk of the press box yesterday that a couple of Australian legends, greats might call it a day at The Oval," he added.
Warner and Smith have themselves given no hints of hanging their Tests just yet. Smith still remains the greatest contemporary batter in red-ball format while Warner had earlier voiced his desire to play one last time in Sydney before walking away from Test cricket.
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