Australian openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner have been one of the most destructive and dangerous batting duos in Test cricket. However, Khawaja will no longer get the opportunity to open with his partner as Warner bid adieu to Test and ODI cricket. Warner played his last Test match against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which was won by Australia by 8 wickets.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner are childhood friends and also had brilliant chemistry while playing for Australia. Warner after the match revealed that he was crying while he had the last talk of his Test career with Usman Khawaja.
David Warner reveals his latest chat with opening partner Usman Khawaja
According to David Warner, Usman Khawaja expressed his feelings with his opening partner and said (as quoted by India Today): “It has been an incredible journey and I will never forget it. We will cherish these moments forever.” David Warner further added that he was in tears during the moment and had nothing to say at the time.
David Warner confessed: “I had nothing to answer. He was crying. “It was pretty hard.” Speaking further, David Warner hilariously revealed that Usman Khawaja always used to accuse him of lack of support which is also known as giving ‘doughnuts’. However, at that point Warner delved into the moment and said, “I had nothing and I couldn’t speak.”
There was a gentle subtlety on the field when David Warner and Usman Khawaja came out to bat in the second innings of the AUS vs PAK third test match. Warner stated that opening with Khawaja was an “incredible, great feeling” for him.
Warner finished his Test career as Australia’s fifth-highest run-getter in the longest format. Warner has scored 8786 runs in 112 Test matches at an average of 44.59. Warner played a brilliant innings of 164 runs at Perth during the first Test match of the series and played a major role in the team’s 360-run victory.
David Warner was not in good contact with the bat in the first half of 2023 and his critics wanted him to be excluded from the team. Warner returned to form in the 2023 IPL and continued to perform in the same manner towards the end of his Test and ODI career.
David Warner was the sixth highest run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup and scored 535 runs in 11 games with two centuries.
Warner was also involved in some controversies including the Sandpaper Gate scandal in 2018. Warner was suspended for 1 year for being involved in ball tampering.
With Warner retiring from Test and ODI cricket, the Australian team management will look for his replacement. Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris are the favorites to replace him as Usman Khawaja’s Test partner.
Warner will also have plenty of time to play in different T20 leagues around the world and will spend a lot of time with his family. Warner started his Test career in the year 2011 after making a name for himself in white-ball cricket.