David Warner – The perfect farewell
Every athlete wishes to retire in front of his or her home fans and family. Few people are capable of doing so. David Warner was the one who did it. A fifty in his final Test innings added significantly to his swansong. Perhaps it was God's way of returning it to Warner. Indeed, this swansong will define him far more than some of the controversies that dogged his career.
Throughout his career, Warner was confronted with questions. Some people claimed he couldn't play Test cricket. 111 Test caps was his retort.
Many people said he couldn't recover from Sandpapergate. His response was to work tirelessly and become so indispensable that he was named Player of the Tournament in the 2021 T20 World Cup and the highest scorer in the 2023 World Cup.
As I previously stated, Warner is not without flaws. It was never and will never be. But then again, who is? He is a mortal who worked extremely hard to accomplish what he did. With a lovely family and substantial wealth, he can look back on his career with great satisfaction.
As someone who has known Warner for over a decade, I can assure you that this is a fitting farewell. It was the ideal ending for the inept cricketer. That is how the cricket Gods reward a true devotee. Perhaps people were unfair to him. It's impossible to believe Warner and Cameron Bancroft were solely responsible for Sandpapergate without the participation of others. Nonetheless, Warner blamed no one. He took the heat like a true team player. I worked hard and made a comeback. That is exactly what sports are all about. Fall, then rise, then keep rising.
Warner will be remembered as one of the game's all-time greats. Perhaps an unlikely candidate. That is what will bring him joy. He had defied the odds. He did this his entire life and came out on top.
Congratulations on your retirement, mate. All is well.
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