David Warner triple hundred against Pakistan confirmed he was back and remained among the best in the world among Test match openers, and earned him a place in Wisden’s Test innings of 2019.
David Warner 335*
Australia v Pakistan
2nd Test, Adelaide
Nov 29-Dec 3
The innings
93 runs in 10 innings, eight single-digit scores that included three ducks: David Warner’s run in Australia’s Ashes-retaining draw in England was best described as miserable. He did blossom in the home T20Is against Sri Lanka and Pakistan but that wouldn’t suffice to make up for the horrendous Test run. However, champions are defined by how they rise from adversity and Warner, with his glorious run in Australia’s home summer, highlighted by his monumental 335* at the Adelaide Oval, reinstated himself as one of the most feared batsmen in modern cricket.
Some cringe at his sometimes questionable behavior, others are able to see past all that and appreciate a truly colourful character. But love him or hate him, David Warner is a heck of a cricketer. And he is here to stay.
🖊️ @axk92 https://t.co/NK6XJybX5S
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 30, 2019
While the marathon knock did have plenty of trademark crisply timed hits to the fence: the flowing cover drives, the short-arm jabs on the on side and the slog sweeps against the spinners, it wasn’t studded with towering sixes as one would expect, the only hit that soared into the crowd coming after he had crossed the magical 300-run mark. His 127-over long stay, a little over nine hours, was punctuated with a slice of good fortune too, but all of those aspects were mere footnotes to the grit, determination, urgency and the strong character demonstrated by the 33-year-old.
“I still think Warner may have time to do it in his career,” Lara stated after Warner’s effort. “He is a very attacking player and that is the sort of player who can always set you up for a win.”
The shot
Choosing one of 40 hits is no easy task, especially if those come off Warner’s flashing blade. But the one that stood out was his first boundary on day two that got him away. Yasir Shah went round the stumps first up and pitched one on a short of good length outside off that turned in sharply. Warner, without an iota of uncertainty rocked back and punched powerfully off the back foot into the extra-cover boundary to set the tone early into the day’s play.
