Australia’s David Warner is far from finished in international cricket. The 37-year-old opener silenced talks of retirement with a dominant half-century on Day 1 of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. Warner, who is assumed by many to be playing his last Test series, refused to be drawn into the retirement conversation. His focus is solely on performing well against Pakistan, and his current form suggests he is doing just that.
At Lunch on Day 1, David Warner had amassed an impressive 72 runs off just 67 balls. He smashed 11 boundaries and 1 six, including a towering shot off Shaheen Afridi that sailed into the stands. Afridi, Pakistan’s pace spearhead, struggled to find his rhythm in the opening session. His full and wide deliveries were easily dealt with by Warner, who showcased his superb shot selection.
The highlight of the session was undoubtedly David Warner’s audacious scoop shot off Afridi for a six. Afridi bowled a full delivery targeting the middle stump, but Warner cleverly scooped it over fine leg while falling to the ground.
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David Warner’s performance comes amidst criticism from former teammate Mitchell Johnson. Johnson questioned Warner’s selection for the farewell series, stating that his recent form has been poor. He even brought up the ball-tampering scandal, claiming that those involved shouldn’t be given a farewell series.
Tired of the conventional, David Warner’s 12th boundary of the first session was nothing short of inventive! 😯#AUSvPAK @nrmainsurance #PlayOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/8ih9vnjhUj
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 14, 2023
However, David Warner received support from teammate Usman Khawaja. Warner himself downplayed Johnson’s comments, acknowledging everyone’s right to an opinion. If Warner manages to convert his fifty into a century, his celebration will be a sight to behold.
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While he has tempered his aggression since the 2018 ball-tampering incident, reaching a hundred might reignite the old Warner. David Warner’s determination and resilience are evident. He is silencing his critics with his bat, proving that he still has plenty of cricket left in him. The first Test against Pakistan is just the beginning, and fans can expect to see more fireworks from the Australian opener in the coming weeks.
