Warner said this after ending his test career brilliantly
After retiring from Test cricket after scoring 57 to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, veteran opener David Warner in his farewell speech said he hoped young kids out there would follow in his footsteps. Can.
Although Warner fell after being out LBW to off-spinner Sajid Khan when Australia were 11 runs behind the target, the left-handed batsman did enough to ensure a comfortable victory, earning a standing ovation from the crowd and Ended his Test career. Australia secured a 3–0 series win over Pakistan.
“It’s pretty much a dream come true. Win 3-0 and conclude a wonderful 18 months to two years for the Australian cricket team. After winning the World Test Championship, drawing the Ashes series and then the World Cup and then to come here and finish 3-0 is an outstanding achievement and I am proud to be here with a group of great cricketers.
“These people work behind their backs. The engine room, three big fast bowlers and Mitchell Marsh. He works tirelessly in the nets and gym and the credit for being on the park goes to him, the physios, the staff who are behind it. Look at them, they are amazing. And I will never have to face him in the nets again. Which I don’t do anyway. That helps,” Warner told the host broadcasters after the match ended.
Warner scored 8786 Test runs at an average of 44.59 and strike rate of 70.19 with 26 Test centuries and 37 fifties and also won the ICC World Test Championship 2023 title. “(This morning) just a casual walk to the local café and a cup of coffee with the little one. I just got in the car and packed a wine or two. Don’t say it so loudly, I will get into trouble.”
“I felt happy and really, really proud. And to be here in front of our home crowd with the support they have shown me and the Australian cricket team over the last decade or so of my career, I can’t thank them enough. “Without you guys we couldn’t do what we do and that’s really appreciated.”
“We are in the entertainment business and I am very happy to be here and showcase what I try to do all the time. I started in T20 and came here and tried to emulate him, but I tried to play my shots, tried to play the way I have played. And yes, managed to get wins on the board which is great,” he said.
Warner also thanked his family for their support during his cricket career. “A huge part of your life and without their support you couldn’t do what you do. I give credit to my parents for giving me a beautiful and excellent upbringing. My brother Steve, I followed in his footsteps. And then (my wife) Candice came and she put me in line.”
“We have a beautiful family and I cherish every moment I spend with them. I love him very much and I will not continue because I will get too emotional. But Candice, thank you for what you did. You mean a lot to me and I appreciate it.”
Warner had also said that this was the end of his ODI career, where he scored 6932 runs at an average of 45.3, including 22 ODI centuries and 33 fifties, including winning Men’s ODI World Cup titles in 2015 and 2023.
“I think it will be quite emotional to see people going there (in their next Test against the West Indies) and not playing and knowing that I was able to come here and do what I could. But as I just said you have got a great group of cricketers here. We all are above 30 years of age. So as time goes on, we’re not getting younger, but this team, they’re energetic, they’re world class and they’re a great group of guys.
“(I would like to be remembered as exciting, entertaining) and I hope I brought a smile to everyone’s face with the way I played and hopefully young kids out there can follow in my footsteps. From white ball cricket to test cricket. This is the pinnacle of our game. So keep working hard to play the red ball game because it is entertaining too,” he concluded.
