‘I had never really experienced that before’ - David Warner opens up on his greatest innings, toughest bowler faced ahead of final Test

Ace Australian batter David Warner is all set to retire from the longest format of the game after the conclusion of the ongoing three-game Test series against the Shan Masood-led Pakistan. With his Test career coming to an end, the veteran batter came forward to talk of the various highlights of his stellar career. 

When asked about his favourite innings from his career, Warner was quick to highlight his unbeaten triple-century (335*) against Pakistan in 2019. He branded it as his most patient knock as well. He also recalled his explosive knock against the same opponent where he slammed a Test century inside one session for Australia in 2017.

“I think the 100 in a session here (against Pakistan in 2017) is probable one for me where you don't go out as an opening batter trying to achieve that, to get the team off to a start like that. But to go out there and score a hundred in a session is massive. Then clearly the 300 in Adelaide was probably my most patient innings,” Warner was quoted as saying by Cricket.com.au.

“It was a challenge mentally to get back up the next day and play, I had never really experienced that before in many hours at the crease,” he added.

He never gave you an inch or a sniff on the field: Warner

Furthermore, David Warner also talked of the toughest bowler he ever faced in his entire career. He namedropped South Africa's Dale Steyn and said that the fiery pacer never used to flash an amicable smile at the batters. Moreover, such was his precision and swing abilities that Steyn never gave his opponents even an inch to play freely against him. Interestingly, Warner also compared Steyn's swinging skills with his teammate Mitchell Starc with sheer pace.

“Without doubt, it is Dale Steyn, he (Dale Steyn) is a fierce competitor who swung the ball back into the left-hander, which is similar to Mitchell Starc swinging the ball back into the right-hander at pace. He was always a fiery customer who never gave you a smile and never gave you an inch or a sniff on the field,” Warner concluded. 

The upcoming third Test of the series against Pakistan will be the final Test of David Warner’s career. Notably, Australia are slated to play Pakistan from January 3, at the renowned Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), in Sydney.