One of the all-time greats, David Warner, bids goodbye to test cricket. It’s probably Warner’s weakest format, but if you average close to 45 with more than 8000 runs to your name in your weakest format, it just tells how great of a player Warner was. An unlikely test cricketer, Warner went on to achieve great heights in the format.
David Warner: The test cricketer
David Warner was one of the most unorthodox test cricketers. He was the first Australian to make his debut before participating in a first-class match since 1877. Few people at the time anticipated that he would also play a significant role in Test cricket, but his incredible 89 from 43 balls on his T20I debut against South Africa showed the world how talented he was. His debut in the whites came in the summer of 2011 against Trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand. He managed to score 15 runs in the first two innings in red-ball but what he did in the next game was historic as well as evidence of his future greatness.
David Warner: Test Stats
| Matches | 112 |
| Innings | 205 |
| Runs | 8786 |
| Highest Score | 335* |
| Average | 44.59 |
| Strike Rate | 70.19 |
| Centuries | 26 |
| Half-centuries | 37 |
In just his second match in test cricket, Warner scored a century. Scoring a century is a great feat but many have done it in their first or second game, what set him apart from the rest was that he carried his bat. Australian great openers including the likes of Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer never carried their bat which made Warner’s achievement even more memorable. His innings of 123* were not enough to stop New Zealand from registering a famous win at Hobart by seven runs.
Warner played his 112th and final test match against Pakistan recently in Sydney. Before the pink test match, Warner on the morning of New Year’s Day announced that he would also retire from ODI cricket.
Warner was unconventional with his batting and many at the start of his career questioned his technique. His aggressive batting technique unarguably added to his woes in India and England.
David Warner in India and England
Warner played 29 matches in the two countries (10 in India and 19 in England). In those 29 matches, Warner scored 1,394 runs in 56 innings averaging just 24.89 at a strike rate of 59.77. Despite scoring 12 half-centuries in the two countries the Australian opener did not score a single century. On his last tour to India, Warner scored 26 runs in three innings but his last tour to England was much better than his previous tours. In his last Ashes, Warner scored 285 runs in 10 innings. Despite his struggles against India and England, he has been exceptional against Pakistan.
David Warner vs Pakistan
David Warner announced his retirement and said the last test of the Benaud Qadir series will be his final match. It was only fitting that Warner played his last test series against Pakistan. Before the series in Australia, Warner had scored 1,253 runs in 16 innings averaging 83.53. His best test score came against Pakistan. The southpaw opener scored 335 not out in Adelaide in 2019. Many including, Mitchell Johnson and Ed Cowan questioned Warner’s position in the Australian side. Warner shut all his critics with a century in the first innings of the series at Perth. He has six centuries against the Asian nation (most against any nation).
Test records
Warner has his name on many record lists. Against New Zealand, Warner scored the seventh-most runs in a day in 2015. He also has scored centuries in both innings of a test match and the Australian opener has done it three times. He also has scored three consecutive centuries twice in his career. With a half-century in his final innings in test cricket, Warner ended his career with 8786 runs. Warner ranks fifth on the list of most runs among Australians.
Warner’s favourite ground
David Warner ruled many Australian grounds and stadiums but the left-hander’s best came at the Adelaide Oval. Warner scored 1202 runs at the Adelaide Oval thanks to his career-best unbeaten knock of 335 runs against Pakistan. He played 10 matches at the Adelaide and in 19 innings he scored four centuries and two half-centuries at an average of 70.71.
Outside Australia, Warner scored the most runs at Newlands Cricket Stadium in South Africa. Despite playing just two matches at the Newlands, Warner scored 342 runs including two centuries at the stadium.