David Warner is making a dramatic entry into the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) for Sydney Thunder. He plans to play in the last three league stage matches before heading to the UAE to captain Dubai Capitals in the International League T20. Despite his recent retirement from Test cricket, he’s in a race against time to reach the venue for a crucial match against Sydney Sixers on January 12. Interestingly, Warner, who retired at the SCG last week, will land his helicopter on the same outfield where the ‘Thanks Davey’ message was painted during the Australia-Pakistan Test match. Initially considering Allianz Stadium, the plan changed, and weather permitting, Warner will touch down at the SCG outfield at 5 PM local time after attending his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley.

“He’s going to take a lot of effort to come and play for us. We love having him here. Last year he was awesome for us, maybe didn’t score as many runs as he would have liked but around the group and passing on knowledge was awesome to have him around. He’s one of the better team men. All the fans get to enjoy him playing cricket,” Sydney Thunder pacer Gurinder Sandhu said.

In the upcoming match, Sydney Sixers will feature Steve Smith, adding to the excitement of the game. The fixture is anticipated to be a blockbuster, and a full house is expected at the SCG. Commenting on David Warner’s entrance, someone remarked, “He’s a bit Hollywood, isn’t he? That’s very Davey.” Another person mentioned getting a Lime bike and planning to replicate the same and ride out as Warner lands tomorrow night.

“I’m glad they are making it happen because think everyone in the country who is a fan of cricket wants to see David Warner in the BBL and I’m really looking forward to coming up against him. One of the best players in the world and has been for a long time,” Sixers pacer Sean Abbott added.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were batting at 23 and six, respectively, with their team’s score at 116 for two before bad light and rain interrupted play before tea. The home team was trailing by 197 runs on that day.David Warner, who was playing in his 112th and final Test match, was disappointed not to have scored a century. Warner, also known as ‘the Bull,’ got out for 34, frustrated by the extra bounce and turn from offspinner Agha Salman. He was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd as he left the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Warner’s dismissal came after he was dropped on 20 by debutant Saim Ayub in Aamer Jamal’s first over. Unfortunately, Pakistan had been struggling in the field with several dropped catches in the series. Usman Khawaja, who has a strong record at the SCG, fell for 47 to a catch down the leg-side off Jamal after a review. Australia still has a strong batting order to follow despite these losses, as Smith and Labuschagne have respectable averages at the SCG.

The rain interruption added to the SCG’s reputation for soggy weather, with 26 washed-out days, the most among Australian Test grounds. Australia had already secured the series with a 79-run win in the second Test in Melbourne over Christmas.

Australian cricket luminary David Warner singles out former South African speedster Dale Steyn as the most formidable bowler he has encountered throughout his illustrious career. As Warner bids adieu for his ODI career and prepares to retire from Test cricket following his farewell game against Pakistan starting Wednesday, he reminisces about the demanding clashes with Steyn during the 2016-17 home series.

In a candid revelation, Warner recounts the challenging 45-minute session at the WACA, where Steyn’s express pace troubled both him and Shaun Marsh. Quoted by cricket.com.au, Warner humorously recalls, ”

Shaun came down to me and said, ‘I can’t pull him, so I don’t know how we’re going to go about facing him.’ He put me on my backside, and I think he broke his shoulder as well that game.”

As part of his reflections on his career, Warner shares insights into Steyn’s fierce competitiveness and ability to swing the ball back into the left-hander, drawing parallels with Mitchell Starc’s skill against right-handers. Despite Warner’s acknowledgment of Steyn’s fiery demeanor on the field, the veteran Australian batter emphasised the absence of a smile or leeway from the renowned South African bowler.

In other cricket developments, Australia opted to stick with an unchanged lineup, foregoing a second spinner in the final Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Skipper Pat Cummins confirms the recovery of Australia’s fast-bowling trio after their victory in the second Test in Melbourne, securing the three-match series with a tense 79-run win.

On the Pakistani side, two strategic changes were made, with Test debutant Saim Ayub opening the innings in place of Imam-Ul-Haq and off-spinner Sajid Khan taking the place of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the final Test.

In a poignant turn of events, David Warner is poised for an emotional farewell to Test cricket in his hometown of Sydney. The seasoned opening batsman secures his spot in an unaltered Australian lineup for the impending third and final Test against Pakistan next week.

Back in June, Warner had expressed his desire to conclude his illustrious 12-year Test career at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With Australia already clinching an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, the 37-year-old’s wish is set to materialize.

George Bailey, the chief selector, confirmed the decision, stating:

“The National Selection Panel have retained the same squad from Melbourne to Sydney as we look to clean sweep the Test series. We look forward to celebrating David Warner’s final Test match and his incredible career at his home ground.”

Warner, a native of Sydney, entered the current series amid uncertainties regarding his form due to a lack of Test runs. However, his commanding 164-run performance in the first innings of the opening Test in Perth swiftly dispelled any doubts about his position in the team.

Australia secured a resounding victory in that Test, winning by 360 runs. In the subsequent Test in Melbourne, captain Pat Cummins delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 10 wickets as Australia triumphed by 79 runs in four days.

The triumph marked Australia’s fourth consecutive series win at home, with an impressive record of 10 wins out of 12 Tests since Cummins assumed captaincy ahead of the 2021-22 Ashes series.

As the focus shifts to Sydney, Pakistan will be vying for their first Test win in Australia in nearly three decades.

Australia Squad:

– Pat Cummins (captain)

– Scott Boland

– Alex Carey

– Cameron Green

– Josh Hazlewood

– Travis Head

– Usman Khawaja

– Marnus Labuschagne

– Nathan Lyon

– Mitchell Marsh

– Steve Smith

– Mitchell Starc

– David Warner

In a historic moment at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia’s opener David Warner etched his name on the cricketing annals by becoming the country’s second-highest run-scorer across all three formats. That milestone was achieved with Warner’s resilient 38-run performance in the first innings of the second Test against Pakistan.

David Warner’s international cricket journey has now accumulated to an impressive 18,515 runs in 460 innings, showcasing a remarkable average of 42.56. Needing just 20 runs to surpass the iconic Steve Waugh’s tally of 18,496 runs, Warner embraced the challenge as he took to the middle to open the innings.

Despite an early scare with a dropped catch by Abdullah Shafique at two runs, Warner persevered and reached the coveted milestone in the 16th over, marked by a boundary off Hasan Ali. Unfortunately, his innings was cut short as he fell victim to Agha Salman’s bowling.

But Warner’s journey is far from over as he eyes the summit currently occupied by Ricky Ponting, who leads the chart with a staggering 27,368 runs in 667 innings. As Warner continues his pursuit, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the unfolding chapters of his illustrious career.

David Warner, 37, put any doubts about his test match skills to rest on Thursday by scoring a powerful 164 runs against Pakistan’s bowlers. Australia reached 346-5 after 84 overs at the end of the first day of the series opener in Perth. Warner, who plans to retire after the third game in Sydney, teamed up with Usman Khawaja (41) for a solid 126-run opening partnership after winning the toss. Warner reached his 26th test century in the 43rd over with a delightful upper cut for four, celebrating with his trademark leap and blowing a kiss towards the media box.

“It’s my job to come out here and score runs, that was from the get-go to put pressure on the Pakistani bowlers,” Warner, who had averaged only 32 in tests since the start of 2020, told Fox Cricket.

“There’s going to be criticism but you’ve got to take that. There’s no better way to silence them (than) by putting runs on the board.”

The world test champions had a strong start, with Shaheen Afridi’s opening over signaling a tough session for the visitors.

Khawaja, wearing a black armband due to ICC rules, fell first after lunch, caught behind by Sarfaraz Ahmed off Afridi (1-75).

Soon after, Marnus Labuschagne (16) was out lbw to medium-pacer Faheem Ashraf (1-65). Warner then adjusted his approach, toning down his attacking style, but not before showcasing an audacious lap shot for six.

Despite surviving a dropped catch and a mis-stumping, Warner capitalized on opportunities, hitting 16 boundaries and four sixes. He eventually miscued against debutant quick Aamer Jamal (2-63) in the 75th over.

Warner, now Australia’s fifth-highest run-scorer in tests with 8651, surpassed Matthew Hayden (8625) and Michael Clarke (8643) during his 211-ball innings.

Pakistan showed promise with disciplined post-lunch bowling, raising hopes of limiting Australia to under 400 on day two. The innings will resume with Mitchell Marsh (15 not out) and Alex Carey (14 not out).

As the three-match series against Pakistan unfolds, all eyes are on David Warner, marking what is anticipated to be the Australian opener’s farewell to Test cricket. At 37, Warner has signaled his intention to step away from the five-day format after the third Test at his cherished Sydney Cricket Ground early next year. Despite being a stalwart of the Australian team for over a decade, Warner’s Test form is now under intense scrutiny, having managed just one century since early 2020.

Former teammate Mitchell Johnson has questioned the narrative of Warner receiving a “hero’s send-off,” particularly considering his recent struggles in Test cricket. In a candid newspaper column, Johnson raised the question,

“Can somebody please tell me why?”

He also revisited Warner’s central role in the infamous “Sandpaper-gate” ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

While chief selector George Bailey affirmed that Warner has rightfully earned his place in the squad for the opening Test in Perth, there are no assurances beyond that, placing Warner under the spotlight to deliver if he seeks an emotional farewell in Sydney.

Coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged the ongoing speculation, stating,

“Davey’s playing the first Test match and we’ll go from there.”

As Pat Cummins’ side take on the role of strong favourites against Pakistan, commencing their defence of the World Test Championship, Warner’s contributions become pivotal.

Having triumphed in the World Test Championship, retained the Ashes, and clinched the one-day World Cup last month, Australia aims to extend its triumphant run with Warner as the leading scorer.

In contrast, Pakistan faces an uphill battle, having won only four Tests in Australia since 1956-7 and none since 1995. McDonald observed Pakistan’s transition to coaching staff and management, anticipating a more up-tempo brand of play to exert pressure on the bowling.

As Lyon inches closer to joining the elite 500-wicket club, Pakistan’s challenge extends beyond mere competition; they aim to secure victory, as emphasized by team director Mohammad Hafeez. Despite tumultuous World Cup and off-field chaos, the squad, now under Shan Masood’s leadership after Babar Azam’s resignation, is brimming with new faces, including uncapped talents like Khurram Shahzad, Saim Ayub, and Aamer Jamal.

As the series unfolds, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the drama on the field, wondering if Warner can make a resounding statement in what might be his Test farewell and how Pakistan’s new faces will fare against Australia’s formidable lineup.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (capt), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Australia squad: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Cameron Green, Lance Morris.