Australia batsman David Warner’s farewell series in the Test format is something Shaheen Shah Afridi hopes to ruin.
Australia batsman David Warner’s farewell series in the Test format is something that Pakistan’s top bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi want to ruin. At Optus Stadium in Perth, the much awaited three-match Test series will begin on December 14. In 109 Test matches, Warner has amassed 8487 runs at a batting average of 44.4. He has also achieved 25 tons and 36 half-centuries. In the red-ball cricket match, the left-handed hitter will be playing his final dance and will be looking to finish on a high note.
Geo News reported ahead of the series that Afridi remarked, “We would wish him good luck but we are not hoping for a good end for David Warner in his last Test series against us.” This indicates that the team’s goal is to ruin Warner’s farewell series.
With a focus on the Men in Green’s position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, the left-arm quick speedster also addressed the team’s lack of experience and the series’ importance.
“Since we are currently dominating the World Test Championship point table, this series is crucial for Pakistan. Although we haven’t played much in Canberra, I’m confident that this four-day encounter against PM XI will help us get ready for the series against the host team, which begins in Perth,” Afridi continued.
Warner was included in the 14-person team for the December 14–15 first Test matchup with Pakistan. This year, following the final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the home ground of his first-class team, New South Wales, the seasoned opener announced his intention to retire from the long format.George Bailey, the chair of Australia’s men’s selection panel, discussed the inclusion of the seasoned batter and encouraged him to play in the third Test against Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), a match the opener hopes to cap off his lengthy format career with. However, Bailey insisted that all players’ performances will be a deciding factor in selection.
“He remains one of our top eleven players to win the opening Test, in our opinion. Each Test, in my opinion, is crucial for determining how the World Test Championship points are distributed in cricket. In every game, there are points at stake. Our emphasis is therefore mostly on selecting the 11 players that we believe are capable of doing the job; naturally, each player has a function within that, and we believe David is the best choice for that for this Test,” he continued.
