David Warner retired: Dale Steyn reflects on Australian opener’s international career

The rival David Warner rates as the best bowler he has faced says the Australian opener’s decision to retire from Test cricket is premature. Find out why here.

The man David Warner regards as the best bowler he ever faced has revealed his deep admiration for the Australian batting great and declared him one of the good guys.

South African fast bowling demon Dale Steyn said he was taken aback to be nominated Warner’s most feared opponent, and recounted his memory locking horns with the young left-hander on his explosive Australian debut in a famous T20 at the MCG back in 2009.

“He smacked me for a huge six,” Steyn told this masthead.

“I actually remember him looking back and Bouch (South African wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher) saying to me ‘bounce him, bounce him.’ He looked at Bouch and got the idea of what was coming.

“And then he went back into his crease and bang — he hit the ball 25 rows deep.”

Warner’s scintillating 89 off 43 balls for Australia in that match, which came before he’d even played a single first-class game, would set the tone for the rest of his blockbusting career.

From the ‘barking dogs’ sledging on a South African tour of 2014, to the sandpapergate firestorm in 2018, Warner was often public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of the Proteas.

But Steyn saw it differently and paid tribute to Warner’s character.

“Marvellous player, and overall, I felt always a good guy off the field,” Steyn said.

“Difficult on the field, which is totally fine — for me was no issues. We knew each other well. But for many other people, I don’t think they enjoyed playing against him.

“But when he’s off the field I think he’s genuinely a good guy.

“A family man. Got a good heart and means well.

“To the Bull, congrats on a great Test career. You’re a wonderful player, my friend, and I wish you all the best.”

David Warner rates Dale Steyn as his toughest opponent.

Warner had a torrid time facing Stuart Broad and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin during his Test career, but didn’t hesitate endorsing his opinion on the best bowler of his generation.

“I think without a doubt it’s Dale Steyn,” Warner said.

“He put me on my backside.

“He’s a fierce competitor who swung the ball back into the left-hander. He was always a fiery customer who never gave you a smile and never gave you an inch or a sniff on the field.”

The admiration is reciprocated, with Steyn describing Warner as one player you just didn’t want to play against.

“I played with him in a few teams (including Sunrisers in the IPL). Such a huge competitor and when it comes to cricket, wow you want him in your team. You don’t want to play against him,” Steyn said.

“He’s one of those kind of guys, who gets his team off to such a fast start. He’s difficult to bowl to.

David Warner launches Dale Steyn on debut for Australia.

“Annoying at times actually with his loud calls.

“He’s one of the first guys I ever played against who had loud calls and trying to push for twos when it was clearly only one. Little things like that that would get under your skin and obviously make you bowl the odd ball here and there that he would capitalise on and make part of his game plan.

“What a wonderful player. Honestly, probably retiring a little bit too soon the way he’s batting right now.

“And he’s won it all too. World Cups, T20 World Cup, World Test Championship.”

Originally published as David Warner retired: Dale Steyn reflects on Australian opener’s international career