On Saturday, Australian opener David Warner played his final 112 Test matches against Pakistan in Sydney, capping a glittering and contentious career.
In Sydney on Saturday, Australian opener David Warner played the final of his 112 Test matches, capping a glittering and contentious career against Pakistan. With a stunning half-century to cap off his 13-year Test career, the 37-year-old dashing opener enabled Australia to win the three-match series by eight wickets. Warner scored 57 off 75 balls in the chase for 130 runs, but Sajid Khan got him out for LBW. Here are five noteworthy Warner events since his 2011 debut:
When Warner carried his bat through an innings to record his first hundred in just his second Test, he joined an elite group and made a spectacular debut on the red-ball scene during the home series against New Zealand in 2011.
On a difficult day four pitch in Hobart, when Michael Clarke’s team was chasing victory, his undefeated score of 123 was eventually insufficient as Australia lost by seven runs.
However, Warner’s valiant actions demonstrated that he deserved to be at the top.
That century was an example of his perseverance and forbearance, but a month later he displayed an explosive side that has characterized his career ever since.
During his fourth Test match, Warner unleashed a devastating onslaught on the Perth WACA pitch, hitting an incredible century off 69 balls.
Warner reached three figures, finally being dismissed for 180, despite the surface providing plenty of bounce and movement for the fast bowlers with his 13 fours and 3 sixes.
In Test cricket, it continues to be the sixth fastest century.
Additionally, Warner scored a century in 78 balls (against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017) and a century in 82 balls (against the West Indies in Sydney in 2016).
There are not many hundreds that signify as much to Warner as the one he amassed against India in 2015 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
His close buddy Phillip Hughes was hit by a short-pitched ball at the ground during a Sheffield Shield game, barely a month prior.
As Hughes was being taken off in critical condition, Warner, who was fielding nearby, held his hand. He passed away afterwards.
Despite being profoundly touched by the tragedy, the opener went on to smash 101 off 114 balls against India shortly after.
Warner gave the earth a tender kiss and raised his head in celebration upon attaining the symbolic score of 63 that Hughes had achieved just before he was struck.
There are not many hundreds that signify as much to Warner as the one he amassed against India in 2015 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
His close buddy Phillip Hughes was hit by a short-pitched ball at the ground during a Sheffield Shield game, barely a month prior.
As Hughes was being taken off in critical condition, Warner, who was fielding nearby, held his hand. He passed away afterwards.
Despite being profoundly touched by the tragedy, the opener went on to smash 101 off 114 balls against India shortly after.
Warner gave the earth a tender kiss and raised his head in celebration upon attaining the symbolic score of 63 that Hughes had achieved just before he was struck.
Warner was always regarded as a hard competitor, but his win-at-all-costs attitude caused one of the largest scandals the game has ever seen in 2018 and damaged his reputation for good.
He told Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper to scuff the ball while they were playing South Africa in Cape Town. After that, the two were humiliated and sent home with captain Steve Smith.
With a heartbroken Warner and a year-long ban for Smith, the drama drove Australian cricket to its knees.
The historic incident severely damaged the player and his family, and Warner—who was portrayed as the main antagonist—was also deprived of his opportunity to lead Australia in the future.
Warner has performed exceptionally well against most Test countries, but especially against Pakistan, where he has scored six hundreds.
Nothing compared to his incredible 335 not out during a day-night Test match in Adelaide in 2019—his only triple-century and greatest score.
After day one, undefeated at 166, he increased the stakes as Pakistan’s bowlers were weary in the intense heat.
Warner won another man-of-the-match award, surpassing the previous best Test score in Adelaide, which was Donald Bradman’s 299 against South Africa in 1931–1932.
His 335 is still the second-highest Australian Test score ever, surpassed only by Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.
