David Warner ends Test career with an innings that reminded of his glory days

David Warner will have a lasting memory of the Sydney fans who rose to their feet to see him off: ‘It meant the world to me. I’ve given absolutely everything to play this game.’

David Warner acknowledges applause from the spectators as he walks out after dismissal for the last time in his 112th and farewell cricket Test on day four of the Third Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

He’s done. It’s over. He did, as he always has, it his way, taking us back to the David Warner of old with a fearless, fluent and aggressive final innings.

Warner’s Test career concluded on Saturday with a half-century and an easy victory over Pakistan to secure the series 3-0 on the fourth afternoon at the SCG.

Right to the end he did it his way.

In the words of the immortal Ted Whitten, he stuck it right up ’em, proving that he deserved to get to this game and go out in this style.

David Warner plays a shot during his 112th and final Test. Picture: Izhar Khan/AFP

Warner is, as Pat Cummins said after play, “box office” so it is no surprise to learn that the next time we see him he could be descending on a BBL match in a helicopter.

The Sydney Thunder team are exploring ways to get the batsman back from his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley in time for game this Friday. Aircraft have been booked, but it is still not locked in.

Hawthorn once famously flew full forward Peter Hudson to Waverley Oval in a helicopter for a one-off comeback game, Kerry Packer used an aircraft to dry his World Series Cricket wickets and a Texan billionaire landed his at Lord’s, so it is not completely unprecedented.

And it is very much in keeping with the David Warner brand.

Warner was dismissed soon after lunch, having survived a few close scrapes on his way to a bright 57 from 75 balls. It was an innings that reminded us of his glory days and underlined just what Australian cricket will be losing.

Scores in the Third Test at the SCG were Australia 299 and 2/130; Pakistan 313 and 115.

David Warner on Saturday. Picture: AFP

“It’s going to be hard to replace Davey, he is a huge personality, he sets the game up,” Cummins said after play.

Warner set Australia up after Pakistan was bundled out for a disappointing 115 and left the home team 130 for victory.

Warner began the innings with a hug from his childhood mate Usman Khawaja, but the Pakistan-born opener failed to survive the first over.

It was clearly an emotional moment and for one of the first times in his career the opener was speechless.

“Usi said, it’s been an awesome journey and one that he won’t ever forget and we will cherish these moments for forever,” Warner said, getting a little emotional again.

“I was tearing up so it was quite tough. He said to me, before he goes, ‘you gave me doughnuts’, and I said, ‘Oh God, I had nothing, I couldn’t talk.’ But yeah it was it was awesome. It was great feeling to walk out with him.”

When the innings ended with just a handful of runs needed for victory there were more hugs, first from Marnus Labuschagne – who was undefeated on 62 at the close of play – and then Steve Smith, who was waiting to replace him in the middle.

Steve Smith, left, about to hug teammate David Warner who walks out after dismissal for the last time. Picture: AFP

Warner blew up about the LBW decision that gave him out when he got back to the dressing room, which stunned his team mates.

It was all for show. He’d pranked them one last time.

Cummins revealed that Warner has developed the habit of hanging the medal he won as player of the 2021 T20 World Cup series in his corner of the change rooms to remind his team mates of that glory.

“There’s always something going on,” the captain said. “Even if he missed out on runs he does something in the field, a dance on the sidelines or something.

“I think we are going to miss that form a team point of view. We spend a lot of our lives on the road, in hotel rooms and when there’s not much going Davey brings energy and excitement to the group.

“Every group needs a couple of people like that, so yeah, we’re going to miss him.”

There was, in the end, a lot of love for Warner. He has clawed his way back since the sandpaper scandal and while there are those who will never forgive, the crowds at all venues this year have shown their appreciation.

David Warner meets a well-wishers after his final Test innings. Picture: AFP

Before he left the arena he acknowledged the Sydney fans who rose to their feet to see him off.

“It meant the world to me,” he said of the acknowledgment. “I’ve given absolutely everything to play this game and to sacrifice a lot of things to be in the position that I am.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs through my career. I’ve had to come back and over come adversity. I’ve done that, you know, I think very, very well. I think it’s been well received from a lot of people and I think today just showed to me that you know, I do have a lot of support.

David Warner meets well-wishers after his last Test. Picture: AFP

“I’m very, very grateful that I’m very thankful for that. Because as I said, I’ve got a lot of passion, a lot of pride, wearing this bag of green going out there playing for Australia.

“It’s a privileged position. It’s one I don’t take for granted. I just want every kid out there to keep focusing on playing Test cricket and girl out there to just aspire to get this baggy green because it is the pinnacle of our sport.”

Warner, refused however, to explain away the mystery of where his baggy green had been after he reported it stolen, saying the media would have to ask team security.

In his last Test Warner again set the tone for the chase, inspiring Marnus Labuschagne to match his strike rate to the point where his partner scored faster early in his innings than he ever has.

“I said to Marnus when I was out there that I’ve got nothing to lose, so I am going to go out there and play the way I do.

“ We always talk about having to dance when it’s spinning like that and you know, the ball has variable bounce and I’ve always said low totals, you have to come out and be very positive and that’s what I set out to do.”

Warner scored almost 9000 runs across 112 Tests, opening for Australia when he had not played there before.

There is furious debate about whether he be replaced by a traditional opener, or whether the side can pick Cameron Green and get someone to adapt to the role.

“I wasn’t an opener. I had to learn on the run,” he said. “It was something that I had to do and it was it was challenging, but I think from my perspective, my game is to be attacking and my defence takes care of itself.

“A traditional opener will go out there and look to you know leave length you know play the ball on its merit, probably not be as aggressive.

“Can you develop as a batsman if you’re not opened? I think you can. At this level, you’ll adjust. You know I’ve always said this that the higher the level you play, the easier it gets because you know where the ball is going to pitch, but the repetitive nature of where the ball is and how you’re going to have to score off that is the hardest part.

“There’s a lot of good credentials out there at the moment that can actually take that position. It’s whether the selectors want someone who goes after the ball a bit more, someone who is in the squad at the moment. Or a guy that is actually a traditional opening batsman.”