In a glittering end to his Test career, David Warner has helped guide Australia to a series clean sweep against Pakistan after the aggressive opener blasted his 37th and final Test half-century in front of his home crowd at the SCG.
The chaotic final hours of yesterday’s action giving way to a more serene glide to the finish line as the home side comfortably reeled in their 130-run target to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.
David Warner enjoys fairytale finish as he guides Australia to Test win at SCG
After wrapping up the series in Melbourne, the headlines were dominated by the departing batsman as he bowed out in front of his home crowd in Sydney.
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“He does rise to the occasion and have a sense of theatre,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket as Warner raced out the blocks.
“It’s hard to look away when he’s at the crease,” Adam Gilchrist added. “And that’s been a trademark throughout his career.”
Warner stormed into the mid 20’s before a mistimed shot gave Aamir Jamal the opportunity to dismiss him. Yet as has been the story of their tour, the fielder was unable to keep a hold of the ball and Pakistan were promptly punished.
Warner creamed a cover drive to the boundary a minute later to rub salt into the wound, as Australia sought to put the nightmare of losing Usman Khawaja for a duck in the first over of their innings behind them.
“Over the years, I haven’t been everyone’s cup of tea but for me, I’ve played the game as hard as I can and trying to do my best for the team,” Warner said ahead of the fourth day’s play.
“Hopefully, I’ve regained that trust and belief from everyone.”
Pakistan resumed on 7-68 and could add just 47 more runs in the morning to give Warner a sniff of a fairytale farewell.
Following Josh Hazlewood’s three-wicket over to cap a breathtaking period where 11 wickets fell in next to no time on day three, in truth, the damage had already been done as the Aussies stood on the brink of victory.
Warner and Australia’s cause was helped by the bizarre omission of Aamir Jamal from the bowling attack for the first 19 overs of the final innings.
The 27-year-old, who became just the second Pakistani player to claim a five-wicket haul and score a half-century in Australia, has taken more wickets during the series than every other player beside Pat Cummins.
Yet his six-wicket haul on day three wasn’t enough to see him handed the Kookaburra until after lunch, but by this time Warner had already taken the game away from the tourists.
“This is vintage Warner,” O’Keeffe said. “Every ball is an event.”
The opener blasted his way to a half-century as if he had prior commitments to attend to before the lunch break.
“The Sydney Cricket Ground is his stage and we’re privileged to be in the audience,” Gilchrist said as Warner notched another Test 50.
We've seen this bat raise a fair few times before! #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/UDKQ1PfT8P
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 6, 2024
Meanwhile, at the opposite end, he was supported by Marnus Labuschagne with the No.3 matching Warner’s pace as the duo dismissed any fears about the pitch causing havoc during the last innings.
Returning to the crease after receiving his second massive ovation following lunch, Warner set about wrapping up the game.
He narrowly survived a close LBW shout, while Labuschagne was dropped in the field before notching his 19th Test half-century.
However, Warner didn't get to enjoy hitting the winning runs as he was finally dismissed for 57, with the Aussies knocking off the final 11 runs to claim an eight-wicket win.