David Warner’s final farewell couldn’t have come in more uncharacteristic circumstances.
The country’s most prolific walking headline and hard-hitting batsman, Warner bowed out while most Australians slept with a prod to first slip.
Warner has spoken during his farewell Twenty20 World Cup about his relief at soon exiting the limelight, frustrated by the never-ending aftermath of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
But even he wouldn’t have wanted the low-profile nature of his final farewell in Australia’s Super Eight loss to India.
This was a long way from the fanfare that went with Warner’s last Test at the SCG, which included an almost week-long saga about his missing Baggy Green cap.
Nor was it anything like his ODI exit, where he celebrated a second World Cup title.
Instead, this was in front of a half-full Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia, as Australia fought to keep their T20 World Cup alive.
Back home, his dismissal came at 2.40am on a Tuesday on the east coast, hardly prime-time viewing for even the most dedicated cricket fan.
And for the first time, this World Cup was not broadcast on free-to-air TV, instead locked behind a paywall with streaming service Amazon Prime.
With Australia chasing 206 for victory, the 37-year-old punched his second ball through cover, and bottom-edged a cut shot for four.
Even after Australia were beaten by 24 runs and he left the ground for a final time, Warner still didn’t know if his international career was over.
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Instead, it was ended back at the team’s hotel, watching on as Afghanistan triumphed over Bangladesh in dramatic style and sealed their spot in the semi-finals ahead of Australia.
Multiple rain delays and momentum swings in the match meant Australia’s fortunes hung in the balance right until the end, with Afghanistan sealing the result just after midnight local time in the Caribbean.
Warner finishes as Australia’s second-most prolific run-scorer in history across all formats, stuck on 18,995 runs, behind only Ricky Ponting’s 27,483.
David Warner bowed out of international cricket at the T20 World Cup. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
As an opener, he remains unmatched: Australia’s most prolific in Test and T20 cricket, while sitting second only to Adam Gilchrist at the top of the order in ODIs.
The left-hander burst on to the scene as a first-of-his-kind type player, blazing 89 from 43 balls against South Africa at the MCG.
He now finishes as one of only five players to be a world champion in Test, ODI and T20 cricket, completing the sport’s triple-crown in England last year.
The left-hander will continue in Twenty20 franchise leagues, and should be back in the Big Bash League next summer with Sydney Thunder.
“Coming back since 2018 I’ve probably … been the only one that’s ever copped a lot of flak,” Warner told reporters prior to the Australian team’s Super 8 exit. “Whether it’s people who don’t like the Australian cricket team or don’t like me, I’ve always been that person who has copped it.
“It’s fine if they want to do that, but I always feel like I’ve taken a lot of pressure off a lot of guys as well and I think understandably I’ve been that person to be able to absorb that.
David Warner walks off the field after being dismissed in his final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground in January. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
“But one can only absorb (so much). For me, it’s great to go out knowing I’m not going to cop it anymore.”
Warner is not naive to the fact his name will likely always be linked with the scandal. But the opener is hopeful that is not the only thing for which he will be remembered, as he finishes a 15-year international career as a T20I World Cup, ODI World Cup and World Test champion.
“I think it’s going to be inevitable that when people talk about me in 20 or 30 years’ time, there will always be that sandpaper scandal,” he said.
“But for me, if they’re real cricket tragics and they love cricket, (as well as) my closest supporters, they will always see me as that cricketer – someone who tried to change the game.
“Someone who tried to follow in the footsteps of the openers before me and try and score runs at a great tempo and change Test cricket in a way.”
with AAP
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