David Warner’s plea after baggy green cap goes missing before farewell Test match at the SCG

The Australian Government has been urged to throw its resources behind the hunt for David Warner’s missing baggy greens as convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby took a cheeky swipe at Qantas who freighted the bags.

The SCG will play host to the swansong of David Warner’s Test career this week and in typical fashion, the prolific opener has captured the headlines once more.

Australian captain Pat Cummins suggested on Tuesday that the celebration of the left-hander’s career would turn into ‘Warner Week’ and less than an hour later, the 37-year-old’s farewell was thrown into chaos.

Warner took to Instagram with a desperate plea for the backpack containing his two baggy green caps to be returned after it went missing from inside his larger luggage compartment during transit from Melbourne.

And while trawling through various CCTV footage proved unsuccessful in tracking down a culprit, Warner’s message attracted the attention of a convicted drug smuggler and calls for the Australian government to intervene.

“Unfortunately this is my last resort to do this,” Warner said.

David Warner’s baggy greens have mysteriously disappeared.

“But a couple of days ago our bags got freighted via Qantas. We’ve gone through CCTV footage, and they’ve got some blind spots apparently.

“Somebody has taken my backpack out of my luggage which had my backpack and my girls’ presents in there. Inside this backpack was my baggy green.

“It’s sentimental to me. It’s something I’d love to have in my hands walking out there this week.”

Warner travels with two baggy greens after he was given a second cap ahead of the 2017 Test tour of Bangladesh. He took to the field with it for the first Test in Dhaka before his original cap was later located at home.

Qantas, a gold partner of Cricket Australia, confirmed to this masthead that they are continuing an exhaustive search in their attempts to track down the backpack.

The Australian men’s team travel with a large quantity of luggage with the airline hopeful that it will eventually be found.

“Our freight teams are continuing to search the terminals in Melbourne and Sydney and reviewing CCTV to try and locate the missing bag,” a Qantas spokesperson said.

“We appreciate the importance of this bag and we’re doing everything we can to help find it.”

Pakistan captain Shan Masood also threw his support behind Warner and called on the federal government to get involved if needed.

“I think there should be a countrywide search right now from the Australian government, to make sure we might need the best detectives to get that back,” Masood said.

“He’s been a great ambassador, he deserves respect and every bit of celebration for his unbelievable career.

“I hope they find it, it’s the most precious thing for any cricketer and I hope David Warner gets it back.”

Warner’s appeal was reinforced by Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association who implored for the backpack to be returned.

While his cause was also echoed by an unlikely source in convicted drug smuggler, Schapelle Corby.

Schapelle Corby replies to David Warner's Instagram plea.

“Qantas! Well do I have a story for you,” Corby replied to Warner’s post on Instagram.

However, the mystery surrounding Warner’s two baggy greens has added further drama to the conclusion of an already extraordinary career.

The dynamic opening batter found himself in the crosshairs of former teammate Mitchell Johnson before the Pakistan Test series after he claimed Warner didn’t deserve a farewell series.

Warner silenced Johnson and other critics by scoring a superb century on the opening day of the series. He was eventually dismissed for 164 and remains the only batter to have reached triple figures this Test summer.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pictured with David Warner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

During the second Test in Melbourne, Warner also surpassed Steve Waugh to move into second on the list for most runs scored by an Australian men’s batter across all three formats (18,521).

The 37-year-old announced last June his intentions to retire following the SCG Test against Pakistan. The match will mark his 112th Test for Australia since making his debut in 2011.

Warner will also be looking to recreate his record-breaking exploits from the last time he took on Pakistan at the SCG where he scored a century inside the first session in 2017.

However, it remains to be seen whether he will take to his home ground with one of his baggy greens. He also confirmed that if the bag was stolen, the thief wouldn’t face any action if it is returned.

“If it’s the backpack you really wanted, I have a spare one here,” Warner said.

“You won’t get into trouble. Please reach out to Cricket Australia or myself via my social media. I’m happy to give this to you if you return my baggy greens.”

Originally published as David Warner’s plea after baggy green cap goes missing before farewell Test match at the SCG