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Former Australia captain Michael Clarke extended his congratulations to David Warner for a stellar international career. Warner recently concluded his final international match during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 against India, where Australia suffered defeat and exited the tournament.
Warner had previously announced that the T20 World Cup 2024 would mark his retirement from international cricket. Throughout his illustrious career, Warner contributed significantly to Australian cricket, securing four ICC trophies: the 2015 ODI World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 2023 World Test Championship final, and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
During ESPN’s ‘Around the Wicket’ segment, Michael Clarke, who once led David Warner in his formative years, reflected on Warner’s immense contributions to Australian cricket and his achievements as a versatile player across all formats.
‘He’s a brilliant player, Davey. There is no doubt he’s polarised throughout his career. Nobody can disrespect what he has achieved on the field, plus all three formats. He started as a T20 player and had the skill and the hard work to improve and change his game to be a successful Test player and ODI player,” Clarke said.
“He deserves a lots of credit for how he entertained all around the world. His energy, his attitude, the way he walked out to bat for Australia (while) opening the batting and setting the tone, I think he deserves a lot of credit,” he added.
The captain who led Australia to victory in the 2015 ODI World Cup remarked that David Warner is a formidable opponent on the field. Clarke also highlighted Warner’s tough and aggressive playing style, emphasizing that he was a player you wouldn’t want to face against.
“David is one of those players whom you want be in your team and didn’t want to play against him. I think he has been pretty consistent all the way through his career. His personality, he’s a tough bug, no doubt about it. On the field, he doesn’t hold back and like I said, Australia has got to see a no. of sides of Davey,” the former Australian batter said.
“People have their opinions that he is polarised. But he deserves respect as a player and how he has entertained over a long period of time for Australia,” Clarke concluded.
David Warner emerged as one of Australia’s most accomplished cricketers, boasting a remarkable international career spanning 112 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 110 T20Is. Across these formats, the left-handed batsman amassed a total of 18,995 runs in 383 matches, including 49 centuries and 98 half-centuries.
In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Warner contributed 178 runs in seven matches at an average of 29.66 and a strike rate of 139.06, achieving two half-centuries.
Known for his aggressive playing style, Warner initially made his mark as a T20 specialist, delivering quickfire innings as an opener. However, he evolved his approach over time and established himself as one of Australia’s greatest Test batsmen.
