David Warner - A lot to write about. Since, the article turned out to be a long drawn one it forced me to restrict from writing much about his technique and capabilities. In short, the man who was once seen as a prime entertainer in the Twenty-20 circus is now the world's leading Test opener. A remarkable transformation in terms of mindset, adaptation and playing style. Yet, the aggression, intent and hunger for runs remains the same.
Here, let me take pride to give you all a collection of the destructive batsman's memorable centuries as he turned 28 this Monday (27 October).
He currently has 11 international tons (9 Test, 2 ODI) to go with his 14 first class tons. The former Delhi Daredevils player also has 7 List A hundreds and 5 Twenty-20 centuries to his name.
1. 123* v New Zealand, Hobart, 2011
December 13, 2011: The day Warner might cherish for the rest of his life.
When the critics stamped him as a T20 specialist and heavily doubted his credentials a Test batsman, this is how the New South Wales star responded in what was only his second appearance in whites for his nation - an unbeaten ton.
Chasing 241 for to seal the game and series against their neighbours, the New South Wales cricketer exhibited immense skill and determination when wickets crumbled at the other end against quality pace bowling.
Deservingly, the dynamic opener achieved a feat that eluded even the likes of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer in their long careers. The pocket dynamite carried his bat through an innings (6th Aussie since World War II) that almost won the game for his side single-handedly.
By the time his partner Phillip Hughes was dismissed after a 72-run stand, Warner has already reached 47 off 56 balls. To be more clear, the weather was not conductive to batting with rain playing spoilsport. Understandably, the teams suffered fatal blows in their respective first innings with the Kiwis gaining a 14-run lead after posting 150.
And it seems that the home side will run away with the game after the openers were involved in the highest partnership of the match. Very few would have predicted that Australia will lose the game by 7 runs in the end that too after a 34-run last wicket stand involving Nathan Lyon.
Notably, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey were dismissed without scoring. That line is enough for you to understand the might of that unbeaten knock from Warner's blade. And you wouldn't believe me if I tell you that the player was battling a back problem that he picked up during that record breaking innings, albeit in a losing cause.
"As a kid growing up you want to keep striving 100% to get that baggy green. Now I have got it I am going to try to hold onto it as long as I can and I am going to keep doing that. Everyone keeps talking about T20 cricket but I have always said I wanted to prove I could play the longer form and at the end of the day it is overwhelming to show people what I have done," said Warner after winning the Man of the Match award.
2. 163 v Sri Lanka, Brisbane, 2012
Warner carried on his spectacular form into the following year and into the ODI format as well. Quite surprisingly, the player failed to make any significant contribution in his 18 matches prior to the 1st CB series final and was fortunate to keep his place in the side.
Proving himself as a big match player, the left-hander produced a brilliant knock that lasted the complete 50 overs of the Australian innings, hitting the 8th highest maiden ODI ton.
Even after a couple of incredible Test hundreds and remarkable T20 profile to be proud of, his application to be a permanent member of the Australian side was taken into consideration only after this performance. By now, the little fellow had slowly began to turn people who were still questioning his talent as an international player.
Batting first on a favorable surface, Warner played waiting game till he reached his first one-day international hundred off 111 balls.
As one would expect, he let out his aggressive instincts after reaching the landmark and ended up with 13 fours and 2 sixes.
He was particularly harsh on Lasith Malinga and Dhammika Prasad and was dismissed on the very last delivery of the innings, deceived by a slower off-cutter.
Sri Lanka went down by 15 runs in the end and Warner's calculated innings proved to be decisive.
3. 145 v South Africa, Cape Town, 2014"It is cricket, isn't it? The way I play I am going to come off sometimes, and sometimes not. At the end of the day, I didn't feel any pressure at all. I backed myself, my instincts and how I play. I went out there with the same attitude, to get the team off to a good start, and I did. Me and Matt [Matthew Wade] put on a 100-run partnership, which was fantastic. At the end of the day it is cricket, and I am thoroughly enjoying it still," Warner exhaled.
If I were Warner, I would be preserving the video footage of this game like how Lord Voldemort safeguarded his 7 'Horcruxes!'
I would prefer the second simply because there was a need for an urgency to go for the shots, unlike the first innings as Michael Clarke was looking for a declaration and it enabled him to enter the history books.
Interestingly, Warner's aggression was so excessive that it forced the team management to ask for brakes fearing a declaration at that point would leave the Proteans too much time to chase down any target.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad player was on 57-ball 75 when Alex Doolan at No.3 brought out the message to slow things down. It is fascinating to know that Warner completely obeyed the team orders although he was approaching his ton.
The attack-minded guy was even padding them away and defending low-full tosses in the later half of the morning session on Day 4.
In the end, he took 67 more balls to get that final 25 runs of his century and opened up again (only on team orders) to finish on 145 (156). The batsman eventually nicked one behind on the look out for runs.
Warner ended up with 543 runs from the 3-match series. Australia won by 245 runs towards the close of the Test which also marked the farewell of South African captain Graeme Smith, to win the series 2-1.
"I'm probably playing the best cricket I have in my career so far. It's fantastic to feel like you know when you go out there you can take on the world's best as I have so far. It's an amazing feeling," told Warner on the twin-tons.4. 133 v Pakistan, Dubai, 2014
If one can take a glance at his numbers since the Ashes 2013/14 - 1228 runs at 72.23 at a strike rate of 80.26 from 18 innings, you just can not say a word against the heavy scoring 'hitman'. Six of his last seven innings have been 50+ ones.
And realizing that fact that Australia only made 303, his innings that lasted till 207/5 stands out and placing him miles above the pack altogether.
Importantly, it has made each and everyone of them who wrote him off after his not so good 2013 that even saw the Sydney Thunder cricketer being banned for 2 Tests, courtesy, the punching controversy involving Joe Root, eat humble pie.
Even with the efforts of Warner, Australia surrendered a 151-run lead. The visitors were set a daunting task of chasing 438 against which they fell quite easily in the second innings.
"There was a lot going through my head 12 months ago and I knew, either knuckle down or I won't play again for Australia. So I spoke to my parents, I spoke to Candice (fiancee) and we came up with a solution to switch on and focus and get back to what I want to do and that was play cricket for Australia," the player said after the innings.5. 135* v Chennai Super Kings, Chennai, 2011
Facing a strong Chennai Super Kings side, the defending champions of the Champions League T20, New South Wales' run machine shut the door on MS Dhoni's men who lost the must win game against a one man show.
In the absence of Albie Morkel and Doug Bollinger being targetted, Dhoni had no choice but to bowl Ravichandran Ashwin in the powerplay. And Warner simply ripped apart the off-spinner, switch-hitting him with ultimate ease, unsettling the bowling plans of Super Kings.
Bollinger, a NSW player opting to play for the Kings, had no respite from Warner as he was there to send him flying every time he came on to bowl. The left hander took 30 runs off the 10 balls he faced from the pacer.
All the bowlers including Dwayne Bravo, left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati and Suresh Raina had no clue whatsoever against the man who was in red hot form. There was simply no stopping the batting powerhouse on that night and it still remains as the highest individual score in CLT20.
While the home side were blaming it on the relaid Chepauk pitch for their shortcomings in the previous matches as the pitch offered no spin/pace/bounce for any of their bowlers, it was still on the slower side and taking on the bowlers of a champion side like Warner did was nothing short of phenomenal.
The unconquered Warner guided NSW to 201/2 in 20 overs and his team won by 46 runs. Fascinatingly, he also smashed an unbeaten 123 in the next game: against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the semi-final in vain.
"He (Ashwin) was one of their wicket-takers that we had to respect, but I thought why not go after him. We didn't want him to get on top of the batsmen. I thought the best way to go about it was to switch-hit him and make him think, 'Alright, where do I bowl now'. That's exactly what he did, he stopped at the crease and from there I knew he was going to start dragging them short and not pitch them up. We took him out of the equation and another guy had to stand up for them. Fortunately for us, none of them did," Warner said on attacking the leading spinner.
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