David Warner not in category of ‘greats of the game’: John Buchanan

David Warner brought curtains down on an illustrious Test career after playing the third and final Test match against Pakistan in Sydney. He also retired from ODIs but has kept himself available for a comeback in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy if Australia requires his services.

The 37-year-old finished with 8,786 runs from 112 Tests, averaging 44.59. His aggressive batting saw him finish with an impressive strike rate of 70.19 in the longest format of the game. Meanwhile, in 161 ODIs, Warner scored 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 and a strike rate of 97.26. The diminutive batter is one match short of playing 100 T20Is, having amassed 2,894 runs at an average of 32.88 and a strike rate of 141.30.

Former Australia head coach John Buchanan, however, feels that Warner can't be called a 'great' as the term should be kept for players like Don Bradman, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

“I don’t think so [when asked whether Warner was a 'great']. I think he’s certainly performed exceptionally well throughout this career, he sits on 8000+ runs, he’s played over 100 Test matches, over 160 one-dayers and nearly 100 T20s. His averages are reasonable compared to all those in the various formats, his strike rate is obviously higher because of the way he plays the game. On performance base, he’s right up there," the 70-year-old said while speaking on SEN Breakfast.

“But greats of the game, in my opinion, are people that really do and have done something exceptional that others just can’t match, so therefore you automatically go to the (Don) Bradmans, (Glenn) McGraths, the (Shane) Warnes, they’re the greats in my opinion. Others come close, but are just not in that category and I don’t see Warner in that category," Buchanan added.

Buchanan is one of the most successful coaches in cricketing history. Under his coaching, the Australian team won two ODI World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2006. While Warner's greatness can be debated in the years to come, there is no denying that he has left big boots to fill.

Australia are set to host the West Indies in a two-match Test series, with the first match beginning on Wednesday, January 17 in Adelaide. It will be interesting to see who walks out alongside Usman Khawaja to open for the Pat Cummins-led side.