In Sydney on Saturday, Australian opener David Warner played the last of his 112 Test matches, capping a dazzling and contentious career against Pakistan.
Let’s examine five noteworthy Warner incidents from his 2011 debut:
Revolution
When Warner carried his bat through an innings to get his first hundred in only his second Test, he joined an exclusive group and made a spectacular debut on the red-ball stage during the home series against New Zealand in 2011.
On a difficult day four pitch in Hobart, when Michael Clarke’s side was chasing victory, his undefeated score of 123 was eventually insufficient as Australia lost by seven runs.
However, Warner’s valiant actions demonstrated that he deserved to be at the top.
In a Test at the WACA in Perth in 2012, Warner struck an explosive 180 against India in only his fourth Test match. Image: AFP
Detonating
Although his century was an example of perseverance and forbearance, he revealed an explosive side a month later, which has characterized his career ever since.
In only his fourth Test match, Warner scored an incredible century off 69 balls, smashing a top-tier Indian attack all over the Perth WACA pitch.
Warner reached three figures and was ultimately out for 180 after hitting 13 fours and three sixes on a surface that gave the fast bowlers plenty of bounce and movement.
In Test cricket, it is still the sixth-fastest century.
A ton in 78 balls (against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017) and a ton in 82 balls (against the West Indies in Sydney in 2016) have also been achieved by Warner.
When Phillip Hughes reached 63 during a Test match against India in Sydney in 2015—the score at which Hughes was struck in the head and ultimately died—David Warner planted a kiss on the ground. Image: AFP
Moving
Few century mean more to Warner than the one he amassed against India in 2015 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Just over a month before, during a Sheffield Shield game, his close friend Phillip Hughes was hit by a short-pitched ball at ground level.
At that moment, Warner was fielding nearby and grasped Hughes’s hand as he was taken off in severe condition. Later thereafter, he passed away.
Although the tragedy had a profound effect on the opener, he quickly moved on to smash 101 off 114 balls against India.
Upon obtaining the symbolic score of 63 that Hughes had achieved when he was struck, Warner made a heartfelt gesture by kissing the ground and looking aloft.
When David Warner told Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper to scratch the ball during a Test match in Cape Town against South Africa in 2018, it was one of the worst moments of his career. Image: AFP
Sandpapergate
Known for his intense rivalry, Warner’s win-at-all-costs approach led to one of the largest controversies in the history of the game in 2018 and damaged his image for good.
When they were playing South Africa in Cape Town, he gave Cameron Bancroft the order to use sandpaper to scratch the ball. After that, the two and captain Steve Smith were humiliated and sent home.
Australian cricket was rocked by the drama, which resulted in a year-long punishment for Smith and a weeping Warner.
The historic event severely damaged Warner, who was seen as the main antagonist, and also cost him the opportunity to captain Australia in the future.
2019 saw David Warner smash a 335 not out against Pakistan in a day-night Test in Adelaide. Image: AFP
Three hundred and fifty
Warner has performed very well against most Test countries, but especially against Pakistan, where he has scored six hundreds.
Nothing compared to his incredible 335 not out during a day-night Test match in Adelaide in 2019—his lone triple-century and greatest score.
After day one, undefeated at 166, he increased the stakes as Pakistan’s bowlers were weary in the intense heat.
Warner won another man-of-the-match award, surpassing the previous greatest Test score in Adelaide, which was Donald Bradman’s 299 against South Africa in 1931–1932.
His 335 is still the second-highest Australian Test score ever, surpassed only by Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.