Saturday was an emotional day for all of the cricket followers as Australia star batter David Warner performed his final Check match on the Sydney Cricket Floor in opposition to Pakistan. The 37-year-old dashing opener ended his 13 years lengthy Check profession with a exceptional half-century, which helped Australia declare an eight-wicket win and register a clear sweep within the three-match sequence. Within the chase of 130, Warner scored 57 off 75 balls earlier than getting LBW out by Sajid Khan. Nevertheless, his final moments on the sphere as a Check batter grabbed plenty of consideration and broke many hearts.
Within the 25 over of Australia’s chase, Sajid struck on Warner’s pads and appealed for LBW. The on-field umpire signaled not out, after which, Pakistan opted for a DRS assessment. Because the TV umpire gave the choice in favor of Pakistan, Warner took the lengthy stroll again to the pavilion, receiving a heartwarming applause from the gamers in addition to the viewers.
For the ultimate time, David Warner leaves the Check enviornment to a standing ovation from his dwelling crowd #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/EOrHijY6ke
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 6, 2024
“It is just about a dream come true to win 3-0 and cap off what has been a terrific 18 months to 2 years for the Australian workforce,” he mentioned after Australia claimed an eight-wicket victory for a sweep of the sequence.
“I am simply proud to be with a bunch of nice cricketers. These guys — they work their backsides off. To come back right here in entrance of my dwelling crowd and the help they’ve proven me and the workforce over the past decade of my profession, I can not thank them sufficient,” he added.
He departed the red-ball recreation after plundering 8,786 runs at a median of 44.60, with a strike price of 70.20, blasting 26 centuries and 37 half-centuries.
A bigger-than-life character, Warner additionally collected 91 catches as some of the constant slip fielders in cricket.
“He’s in all probability our greatest-ever three-format participant. He’ll be a loss,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald mentioned forward of the Check.
Warner final week additionally introduced his retirement from one-day worldwide cricket, however is predicted to proceed within the Twenty20 format.
Whereas one of many most interesting openers the game has identified, Warner’s exploits will eternally be overshadowed by the position he performed within the infamous “sandpaper-gate” ball-tampering scandal of 2018.
He was seen because the chief plotter when Cameron Bancroft used sandpaper to scuff the ball earlier than a crude try to hide the proof down his trousers in the course of the third Check in Cape City.
Together with skipper Steve Smith, he was suspended for a yr by Cricket Australia, stripped of the vice-captaincy and banned from ever main the workforce.
Regardless of the controversies Warner was welcomed again into the Australia fold when his ban ended and made his comeback in the course of the Ashes sequence in opposition to England in 2019.
He has been a fixture ever since with selectors now dealing with the tough resolution of who replaces him, with a two-Check dwelling sequence in opposition to the West Indies beginning on January 17 in Adelaide.
Recognised openers Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are seen because the contenders to fill the position.
Nevertheless, Smith added a twist to the plot this week when he put his hand as much as transfer up from quantity 4 and do the job.
That might open the door for the return of younger all-rounder Cameron Inexperienced in the course of the order, having been ignored in latest Checks in favour of a resurgent Mitchell Marsh.
(With AFP Inputs)
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