After 15 years, four ICC trophies, 18,995 international runs, 383 matches and tons of controversy, it’s truly the end of a remarkable and celebrated career of the “Bull” of Australian cricket. It was confirmed when George Bailey told the media that Warner would not be considered for the champion’s trophy next year in Pakistan.
With Warner’s career coming to an end, it can be said without a doubt he is the best all-format Australian player, pipping the likes of Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and even Smith.
Let’s look into the impact of Warner over the years, why it is going to be an uphill task for Australian cricket to replace Warner in this tricky phase of transition and how it is high time the Aussie fans respect this man. As they say, you only feel the worth of someone when they are gone, the fans might feel that worth if Smith and Khawaja end up struggling this summer against the likes of Bumrah and co. when India visit down under.
David Warner bowed out of international cricket at the T20 World Cup. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
A T20 sensation
David Warner made a spectacular debut in international cricket with a swashbuckling 89 off 43 balls against a strong South African team. As T20 cricket and leagues like the IPL and Big Bash gained prominence, Warner became a consistent force in T20 World Cups, renowned for his busy-at-the-crease style. He would consistently run the singles and twos and then hit occasional boundaries, never letting his team face any scoreboard pressure.
His achievements include winning the orange cap thrice in the IPL, an ICC WT20 title for Australia, and the 2021 MVP award. With over 12,000 T20 runs, Warner’s impact on the game is undeniable. He remains a top pick for any T20 side.
Best T20I innings of Warner: 89 off 43 against South Africa, 2009 at MCG
A consistent ODI run machine
Following his impressive T20I debut, Warner made his ODI debut against South Africa. While his ODI debut didn’t match the success of his T20I debut, Australia persisted with Warner, particularly during their transition after the 2011 World Cup. Warner’s role as an opener was solidified, and he played a crucial part in Australia’s ODI World Cup campaigns in 2015, 2019, and 2023. His aggressive starts in the powerplay contributed to Australia’s victories in 2015 and 2023.
One of Warner’s greatest strengths in this format was his ability to play long innings while maintaining an impressive strike rate, evident in his seven 150-plus scores in ODIs. Playing 161 matches and scoring 6,932 runs, Warner not only became an impact player for Australia but also established himself as one of the ODI greats of the 2010-2019 decade. With two ODI WC wins, he has earned a place among the elite list of cricketing greats, particularly those from Australia.
Best ODI innings: 166 off 147 against Bangladesh, 2019 WC in Nottingham
A solid and aggressive Test opener
“When I went to Delhi, Sehwag watched me a couple of times and said to me, ‘You’ll be a better Test cricketer than what you will be a T20 player’”. These were the words of Virender Sehwag to David Warner when he had just started to play for the Delhi Daredevils back in the early IPL days. Such was the wisdom of Sehwag, that 12 years later it proved to be absolutely bang on.
David Warner. (Photo by Jason McCawley – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Warner was always an aggressive personality and a formidable batsman. After Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden retired, it was up to the young players to fill their shoes. Australia turned to Warner, an aggressive left-handed opener who propelled the team to a strong start. Although Warner amassed over 8,000 runs, his performance at home was stellar while his away record was subpar. Nonetheless, he consistently delivered for the team, whether it was his remarkable 335 at the Adelaide Oval or his counter-attacking 180 against India in Perth. Even when he struggled away from home, Warner played resilient innings to ensure Australian victories, as exemplified in the 2023 Ashes.
His contributions in the Test format will be challenging to replace, but up-and-coming players like Jake Fraser-McGurk may soon take over and make an impact in the longer format by scoring quick 50s.
Best Test innings: 335* off 418 against Pakistan, 2019 at Adelaide Oval
Controversies and comebacks
David Warner has had a career marked by controversies. Despite his significant contributions to Australian cricket and numerous records, his reputation took a hit due to the infamous “Sandpapergate” incident in March 2018. This event led to a significant change in his demeanour, transforming the once volatile and controversial figure into “David Warner 2.0” – a calmer, more responsible individual with a different outlook on life.
Throughout his career, Warner has been no stranger to controversy. Incidents such as the 2013 suspension for attempting to punch Joe Root and the heated altercation with Quinton de Kock during the fiery 2018 series have punctuated his journey. Despite these setbacks, Warner made a remarkable comeback, leading Australia to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup and amassing an impressive 647 runs in the tournament. This outstanding performance silenced his critics and solidified his resurgence in the world of cricket.
The one thing David Warner lacked the most after the sandpaper incident was the trust of his home fans and he was always under scrutiny for not performing well overseas. His legacy has been hotly debated ever since he was given the option to decide his retirement. We never know if we will get to see a true all-format opener again in world cricket with the T20s intensified and Test cricket decreasing in relevance. This generation of openers like David Warner, Rohit Sharma and others might be the last to excel in all formats consistently.
Which is another reason why David Warner deserves respect after all he has done for Australia and world cricket.