T20 World Cup: Latest news and updates ahead of Australia’s final against New Zealand

David Warner walked despite replays showing he did not hit it. But a former Indian batter has labelled him as ‘pathetic’ for a separate incident.

David Warner has emphatically snapped his form drought in a week in which Greg Chappell – his first big-time supporter – released a cricket book with a sage piece of wisdom.

In the book, Not Out, Chappell says with great players, he never had an issue with giving them that extra few games to prove themselves, because their class was assured and you’re always likely to find a bit more petrol at the bottom of the tank.

And so it’s proven for Warner, who has rescued himself and his country with two fighting innings when both needed it the most.

His game-shaping 49 off 30 balls in the semi-final against Pakistan took Warner to some very unusual places.

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David Warner after being dismissed caught behind — despite not hitting it. Picture: AFP

He was bizarrely accused of bad sportsmanship by former Indian player Gautam Gambhir, for having the audacity – wait for it – to hit a bad ball out of the stadium for six.

The ball from Mohammad Hafeez bounced twice, but it was complete nonsense from Gambhir, because however, Warner hit it, Allan Border would have hit it even further, such was his tolerance for shoddy deliveries.

But the craziest moment came when Warner walked when given out caught behind, despite the fact there was clean air between bat and ball.

Matthew Wade explained post-match that Warner didn’t think he hit it – but for some reason didn’t send it upstairs for review after not getting any support from batting partner Glenn Maxwell who thought he had hit it.

It wasn’t quite Warner’s Adam Gilchrist moment, but it was unusual to see a batsman walk from the field in the modern game when they didn’t think they were out.

What an absolutely pathetic display of spirit of the game by Warner! #Shameful What say @ashwinravi99? pic.twitter.com/wVrssqOENW

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 11, 2021

A double-bouncer hit for six! A gift for Warner 🎁@ICC@TheRealPCBMedia@MHafeez22#WorldCupT20 | #PakVsAUS | #WeHaveWeWillpic.twitter.com/VKdwbs88jd

— Usama (@UsamaAftabISF) November 11, 2021

“There was a noise and he wasn’t sure whether his bat handle clicked or his hand on his bat (made a noise),” said Wade.

“He didn’t think that he hit it, but I think Glenn at the other end heard the noise, and to be fair, he was out there (with the ball), so thought he might have hit it.

“How many times do you see batsmen think they haven’t hit it and they have, so you need a little bit of reassurance from the other end. That’s not having a go at Maxi, he heard a noise, but hopefully something like that doesn’t happen in the next match.

The DRS disaster threatened to be the turning point in a Pakistan victory, until Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade saved the day.

“You get two reviews in this format so I would say we should have used it, but that’s the way it goes,” said Wade.

But the bottom line is, it didn’t prove a turning point and Australia’s batting order held its nerve.

Warner’s brutal innings set the tone and that’s now two big scores in a row heading into the final following his matchwinning 89 not out against the West Indies.

Coming into the tournament, Warner was under enormous pressure following his dropping at the IPL and lack of match play all year.

But much like a boxer who needs smelling salts, Warner is at his best when he’s being hunted.

Being written off returns Warner to his roots as the fibro kid scrapping for everything.

Warner has had to fight all his life and it’s the essence of who he is.

Being challenged doesn’t rattle him, it stimulates him and Australia’s faith in his big-time abilities could be about to reap the ultimate reward in a World Cup final.

Originally published as T20 World Cup: Latest news and updates ahead of Australia’s final against New Zealand