• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

David Warner Test Retirement: Australia's star opener David Warner retired from Test cricket after playing his final match at the home ground Sydney Cricket Ground against Pakistan on Saturday, January 6.

Warner scored a half-century before getting dismissed for 57 runs in his final Test inning as he helped Australia clinch an 8-wicket victory over Pakistan and complete a 3-0 whitewash.

The veteran had announced a few months back that the home Test series against Pakistan would be the final of his career and he finished as the second-highest run-getter in the series with 299 runs to his name in six innings at an average of 49.83.

Warner went on to recall the remarkable year or two for the Australian team as they achieved massive success with the star opener playing a part in his way.

"It's pretty much a dream come true. Win 3-0 and cap off what's been a great 18 months to two years for the Australian cricket team. On the back of the World Test Championship win, the Ashes series draw, and then the World Cup, and then to come here and finish 3-0 is an outstanding achievement and I'm just proud to be with a bunch of great cricketers here.

The 37-year-old felt emotional about the fact that he would not be there to represent the Australian team in their next assignment against West Indies.

However, he mentioned his teammates as a great bunch of cricketers and lauded them for their energetic efforts for the team throughout their careers.

"I think it'd be quite emotional to watch the guys go out there [in their next Test series in the Caribbean] and not play and knowing that I was able to come out here and do what I could do. But as I just mentioned you got a great bunch of cricketers here. We are all almost over 30 years of age. So as time goes by, we're not getting younger, but this team, they're energetic, they're world-class and they're a great bunch of guys.

The star opener has had a memorable career both on and off the field. He was known for his aggressive approach on the field but later on, became a friendly character and a remarkable entertainer off the field. His career was always under the limelight, sometimes for his attacking batting and sometimes for other controversial reasons. Meanwhile, Warner, who is one of Australia's great openers, wants to be remembered as exciting and entertaining.

He also mentioned Test cricket as an entertaining format and wants the upcoming generation to work hard and follow in his footsteps.

"[Would like to be remembered as] exciting, entertaining, and I hope I put a smile on everyone's face with the way that I played and hopefully the young kids out there can follow in my footsteps. White-ball cricket to Test cricket. It's the pinnacle of our sport. So keep working hard to play the red-ball game because it's entertaining as well."

Warner had already announced his retirement from the ODI format a few days back and will not be seen in the longest format as well as he leaves massive shoes to be filled in that opening slot for the Men in Yellow.

He represented Australia in 112 Test matches and scored 8786 runs at an average of 44.6 with the help of 37 half-centuries and 26 centuries.

Warner also played 161 ODIs for Australia, scoring 6932 runs on the back of 22 tons and 33 fifties, and was part of the World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2023.