It wasn't quite a fairy tale finish for David Warner, but it was very close. Warner scored 57 runs to help lead Australia to an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan on January 6, in his final test match, ending a 112-test career as a winner on his home ground.
With Australia needing only 11 runs to claim its third consecutive victory in the three-test series, and with a chance to score the winning runs, Warner was out lbw off the bowling of Sajid Khan. He walked off the Sydney Cricket Ground to a standing ovation as he waved to the crowd. As he headed to the locker room, he was embraced by his former test captain Steve Smith. Warner handed his Australia batting helmet and gloves to a young fan at the players’ gate and walked off into test retirement.
Warner had nominated the SCG test as his last before retirement as soon as Australia's summer schedule was finalised, before he was guaranteed a spot in the starting XI. It generated plenty of conjecture about his form ahead of the series but selectors stuck with the veteran and he delivered against Pakistan, opening the series with a big century and tallied 299 runs in his six innings.
