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Australian cricket fans are gearing up to bid farewell to one of their iconic openers, David Warner, as he prepares for his final red-ball appearance in the upcoming third Test against Pakistan. The New Year Test, scheduled to commence on January 3 at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground, will mark the end of Warner’s illustrious Test career.
A Test cricket luminary
Warner has etched his name in the annals of Test cricket as one of the most dynamic and successful opening batsmen. With numerous milestones to his credit, the New South Wales cricketer has played a pivotal role in Australia’s triumphs, showcasing an aggressive brand of cricket that has made him a fan favorite.
David Warner names the toughest bowler
Despite his dominance over bowlers throughout his career, Warner recently opened up about the one bowler who posed the toughest challenge to him in Test cricket. The Australian star pointed to none other than South African pace legend Dale Steyn.
Reflecting on the memorable Test at WACA during the 2016-17 home series against South Africa, Warner spoke about the formidable challenge presented by Steyn. Recalling a particularly challenging session, Warner, in a video shared by cricket.com.au, mentioned: “Without doubt it’s Dale Steyn. I go back to the WACA (the first Test of the 2016-17 home series against South Africa) when me and Shaun Marsh had to go out for an ugly 45-minute session. Shaun came down to me and said, ‘I can’t pull him so I don’t know how we’re going to go about facing him’. He put me on my backside and I think he broke his shoulder as well that game.”
Also READ: Australia veteran David Warner announces ODI retirement along with Tests
Unique skill set
Warner lauded Steyn’s fierce competitiveness and highlighted his ability to swing the ball back into the left-hander, drawing parallels to another Australian fast bowler, Mitchell Starc. According to Warner, Steyn’s relentless approach on the field never allowed opponents any room to breathe or find a foothold.
“He’s a fierce competitor who swung the ball back into the left-hander, which is similar to Mitchell Starc swinging the ball back into the right-hander at pace. He was always a fiery customer who never gave you a smile and never gave you an inch or a sniff on the field,” added Warner.
A fitting finale
As Warner prepares for his final Test, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the New Year Test, where the left-handed maestro will take his last bow in the red-ball format, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. So far, Warner has played 110 Tests and scored 8651 runs with 335 being his best performance.
