Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has lauded opener David Warner in anticipation of his farewell Test match. Warner is poised to retire from Test cricket after the Pakistan Test series, and if selected, his final appearance will be at the Sydney Cricket Ground, his home venue.
In his column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell expressed that David Warner stands as the second most destructive opener in the modern era, surpassed only by India’s Virender Sehwag. Warner boasts an impressive record, amassing 8695 runs from 111 Test matches with a remarkable strike rate of 70.3.
“David will never live down the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ incident. That scar on Australian cricket needs to be owned by a lot more people than Warner and Bancroft. Warner’s role in the success of Australian cricket during his time cannot be underestimated. In the modern era, only Virender Sehwag has been more damaging than Warner as an opener.” Chappell said in his column at the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The impact of a destructive opener can never be overestimated, and I strongly believe that the selectors must look for someone with similar abilities to replace Warner or risk giving away the unique advantage that Australia has enjoyed for the past decade,” he further added.
Warner commenced the series against Pakistan with a stellar 164, playing a pivotal role in putting Australia in a favorable position to win the game. Following a quieter second Test, Warner aims to conclude his Test career on a high note, particularly after his public altercation with Mitchell Johnson.
Leading up to the Test series, Johnson criticized Cricket Australia for granting Warner a farewell Test without the batter publicly apologizing for the Sandpaper Gate controversy. In contrast, Chappell believes that Warner’s significant contributions to the country merit a deserving and fond farewell.
“I know how hard it is to do what he has done through 111 Tests, so I hope that David’s harshest critics acknowledge his talent and contribution and forgive his human frailties. I hope Sydney farewells David Warner fondly next week. Whatever one thinks of him, David Warner has been fantastic for Australian cricket,” Chappell wrote.
“The passion, energy, professionalism and competitiveness that he has brought to every contest have been unmatched. He must accept that he has allowed himself to be portrayed in a certain manner,” concluded the former Australia captain.
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