It was the near perfect farewell for David Warner, who performed brilliantly in Australia’s eight-wicket defeat of Pakistan in the SCG Test when scoring one final half-century to cap an outstanding career at the top of the order.

Pakistan started the day at 7-68, holding a lead of 83 runs and needing another big partnership from Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal, their first innings stars with the bat. It was not to be, with Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins sharing the three wickets as Pakistan reached 115 to set Australia a target of 130 to win.

Josh Hazlewood had said after his phenomenal flourish to finish Day 3 that anything above 130 would prove a tricky target. When Usman Khawaja fell for a duck, an upset seemed possible.

But Warner, who made 57, and Marnus Labuschagne, who was unbeaten on 62, steered Australia to a stylish victory.
‘A dream come true’: Warner says goodbye | 04:03

A MOST WONDERFUL WARNER … AND THE FONDEST OF FAREWELLS

Five years ago, many assumed David Warner would never receive a proper Test swansong.

The New South Welshman became public enemt No. 1 following the 2018 ball-tampering saga, banned from the sport he loved for 12 months for his involvement in the scandal.

During his hiatus, where he returned to club cricket with Randwick Petersham and got back in touch with those at the grass roots that helped him become a star, a large portion of the Australian cricket fanbase did not want Warner to return to the national side.

However, the dazzling left-hander has since won over the Australian public, getting the farewell he deserved at the SCG this week.

In what’s been branded ‘Warner Week’, all eyes were on the 37-year-old throughout the New Year’s Test against Pakistan. The Sydney fans rose to their feet in unison whenever he walked onto the field — and there were plenty of opportunities to do so — and roared with delight when he brought up a half-century on day four.

The Pakistani players gave Warner a guard of honour ahead of his second innings at the SCG, with umpires Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough joining them. Later, classy Pakistan captain Shan Masood presented Warner with Babar Azam’s match top as a parting gift.

And the cherry on top for Warner was having his wife Candice, father Howard, mother Lorraine, brother Steve and his three daughters, Ivy, Indi and Isla, in the crowd cheering him on.

“It meant the world to me,” Warner told reporters when asked about the reception he received at the SCG this week.

“I’ve given absolutely everything to play this game, to sacrifice a lot of things, to be in the position that I am.

“I’ve had a lot of us and down throughout my career. I’ve had to come back and overcome adversity. I’ve done that I think very well, and I think it’s been well received by a lot of people.

“And today showed me that I do have a lot of support, and I’m very grateful for that and very thankful for that.”

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AUS v PAK: 3rd Test, Day 4 highlights | 08:17

Usman Khawaja, a mate from his childhood who embraced Warner as they headed out to bat for the last time together, said it was the perfect goodbye for the champion opener.

“It’s nice to see him leave on a high. It’s his Test. It’s really good to be a part of it,” Khawaja said.

“He’s been such an amazing cricketer for Australian cricket for so long. It’s nice for him to go out on his own terms in front of his home crowd, in front of family and friends. I couldn’t think of a better way for him to go.

“It’s really good to watch that people are getting around him because I believe he deserves it. I really do. It’s nice to see people give him the accolades he deserves and seeing him go out on a high on his home ground.

“We won’t get to play (together) again after this, and it will be sad. We’ll definitely be sad.”

Warner will represent Australia at this year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States before wrapping up his 15-year international career.

“I just want to be remembered probably as an entertainer,” Warner continued.

“Someone that gave it his all. I’ve been authentic. I’ve never changed. I’ve said it how it is, and I still will. I believe in that, being true to yourself.

“And just making sure that I’m continuing to be a role model for the game, encouraging people to get out there and giving it a crack.

“I’ve been brave and been bold.

“I’d just like to be remembered as someone who took the game on with pride, passionate, and left no stone unturned.”

Usman Khawaja and David Warner embrace before Warner’s last test match innings. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Usman Khawaja and David Warner embrace before Warner’s last test match innings. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
THE BISON REIGNS AS THE KING OF ALL-ROUNDERS

It was the summer of ‘the Bison’, a series where big Mitch Marsh swung from the hips and cemented himself as Australia’s number six for the foreseeable future.

The 32-year-old scored 344 runs during the Benaud-Qadir Trophy at an average of 68.8, scoring four half-centuries in the process to continue his superb form since being recalled to the Australian side midway through the Ashes.

A maiden century against a nation other than England proved just beyond his reach, but his opening innings 90 in Perth and his 96 in the second dig in Melbourne were outstanding.

His deeds in Perth earned him Man of the Match honours.

But Marsh, who also snared a couple of key wickets as he continues to rebuild his bowling after surgery on his left ankle 13 months ago, has claims to being the man of the series.

Less tangible but critically important is his presence around the sheds. Marsh is a man of the people and the Australians love his laid-back demeanour and empathy for his teammates.

After Australia’s stunning triumph in the ODI World Cup in India, Fox Cricket expert and fellow Western Australian Mike Hussey predicted Marsh’s best was still to come.

The towering right-hander has credited Australian captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald for allowing him to bat at the crease unencumbered and without fear.

It will not always work. But when Marsh delivers, he does so in devastating fashion.

Cummins, who earned the man of the series honours, praised the excellence of Mitch Marsh for his deeds through the summer.

“It was a huge series for Mitchy,” he said.

“In every Test, he contributed with the bat, and he took a couple of key wickets at big moments. He is thriving. He is just showing how good he is. He walked out in some really tricky spots and made it his own.”

Marsh rescues Aussies from shaky day 3 | 03:25

When sharing an 84-run partnership with Alex Carey at the SCG on Friday, one which proved critical in the context of a tight Test, Harsha Bhogle posited that Marsh was effectively a No.5 and the wicketkeeper a No.6. That is a luxury for Australia.

“They have got players who, when the team needs them the most, they (deliver), and Mitch Marsh has been so valuable,” Guha told foxsports.com.au.

“He has shown a lot of maturity in the last six months playing his own way, but also riding the tougher moments out as well. He has incredible game sense.

“He has had a little bit of fortune but he has been good enough to capitalise on that and to have someone with such muscle in that position is quite intimidating for teams.

“It means (Steve) Smith and (Marnus) Labuschagne can play the way they want knowing they have got firepower to come after that. He is an incredibly valuable player.”

Josh Hazlewood (L) celebrates with Mitch Marsh after taking the wicket of Salman Ali Agha. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)Source: AFP
THE WORLD’S BEST BACK ON TOP

Next year’s summer of cricket scarcely needs any additional promotion, such is the pull of India and the rivalry between the two powerhouse nations. But Australia’s whitewash against Pakistan has added an extra incentive for both nations.

Having secured a 3-0 triumph when securing the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, Australia has returned to No. 1 on the ICC Test rankings.

After India lost its series opener against South Africa last week, the powerful nation slipped a rung to second spot.

There is still plenty of cricket ahead for both countries in 2024 but the ICC World Test Championship finalists could well be playing for top spot when the five Test series begins on Australian soil in December.

Australia’s ascension caps a remarkable eight months for Pat Cummins and his teammates, headlined by the WTC Test triumph over India and including the retention of the Ashes in England and the World Cup triumph in the subcontinent.

“They are so hard to beat at home, but they’ve proven they can can do it away from home as well,” former England bowler Isa Guha told foxsports.com.au.

“They are just a well-oiled unit at the moment, and the sign of a good team is when different people are performing at different times.

“There’s no doubt that they’ve won the big moments whenever they’ve had the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Cummins is yet to taste defeat as Test captain on home soil after 11 matches in the role. It is a streak he will hope to continue when Australia seeks to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next summer.

The Indians have won four consecutive Test campaigns against Australia dating back to 2017, including two unforgettable away series wins in 2018/19 and 2020/21.

Only a victory over India next summer will allow Australia to unequivocally cement their status as the world’s best Test side.

Pakistan offer touching gesture to Davey | 00:37

Australian captain Pat Cummins pointed to the nation’s success around the world over the past couple of years when saying he believes the ranking is justified.

“I don’t know quite how all those rankings work, but it is good. I’d rather be one if someone is going to rank us. That is probably a good place to be ranked,” Cummins said.

“I think it is a good nod to what the group has been able to achieve over the last couple of years, really.

“We have played some awesome cricket basically all around the world. It is a pretty special group.

“You would have to say the World Test Championship, the Ashes, being ranked No.1. Those kind of acknowledgements show we have done something right.”

CARIBBEAN DREAMS TO COME … AS AUSTRALIA LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

Steve Smith may have put his hand up to replace David Warner as Australia’s next Test opener, but it shapes as a highly unlikely scenario heading into the West Indies series.

Having swept the Benaud-Qadir Trophy 3-0, the Australian’s focus turns to the West Indies, with the first of a two Test series beginning in Adelaide in eleven days time on January 17.

With the West Indies sending out seven uncapped players in its 15-man squad, it will be a surprise if the Australians do not extend their dominance at home through another series.

But that does not mean there will not be points of intrigue throughout the day-night match at the Gabba and also the final Test in Adelaide from a local perspective.

And the focus starts at the top. Who will open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja?

Throughout the summer, key figures including Australian coach Andrew McDonald stated it was a four-man race until Smith suddenly put his hand up on Friday night at the SCG.

Let’s touch on that first.

Barring an extraordinary change in the next week and a half, it seems the champion batsmen will stay at No.4 with a view to New Zealand, India and England on the horizon.

Fox Cricket expert Ian Smith raised a couple of crucial points when stating he would prefer the Australians looked elsewhere, which includes the importance of blooding someone new.

“He is just a great player and I think he deserves to go out on his own terms,” Smith said.

“But if it didn’t work for him at the top of the order, that is my only runner here. If it didn’t work for him — say he failed four or five times in a row at the top of the order, badly — what then?

“Do you drop him back to No.4 and say, ‘That’s okay. We tried it with you.’ And then get someone else in.

“To be perfectly honest, playing against the West Indies, it is not a bad time to bring someone new in. We are not talking about the fiercest bowling attack in the world to get started on. But if Steve Smith wants to do it, I’m not going to point at him and say, ‘No pal.’”

ABSURD Smith brainfade sees dismissal | 01:35

Former English captain Michael Vaughan, who excelled as an opener for his country, said he too would opt for someone other than Smith, who struck a four with the only ball he faced on Saturday as Australia clinched an eight wicket victory to round out the series.

“If someone sticks their hand up, I think Australia has to listen. I’d go for Cameron Green but if you have got Steve Smith there … may be at this stage of his career, he is looking for a new challenge,” Vaughan said.

“The opponents generally target him with short stuff as soon as he walks out there these days and maybe if he opens the batting, he can get to 30 or 40 before they go for that.

“It might just be Steve Smith sending a message, saying, ‘I need a new challenge in my career.’”

Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Harris and Green are the logical options.

It is clear Australia wants Green, who lost his spot to Mitch Marsh during the Ashes, in the team given his outstanding talent.

Harris, who toured as a member of the Ashes squad and scored a century against Pakistan in a trial game shortly before Christmas, appears the frontrunner if an opener is preferred.

Usman Khawaja had a word of advice for whoever the Australian selectors opt to choose as his partner.

Travis Head hypes up Bay 13 | 00:23

“Be yourself. You can’t try to be anyone else. You can’t try to go out there and strike at 70 if you don’t strike at 70,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket.

“Test cricket is a long game. It is a game played over five days. It is great to have players like Davey, but it is not the be all and end all. It is not a necessity. So whoever comes in needs to do it their own way.

“No two individuals are the same. That is what makes a team really good. Everyone has got their skills and that is what makes a team really strong. Whoever comes in, they just have to do it their own way.”

The opening position aside, the West Indies series shapes as an opportunity for World Cup hero Travis Head to regain his best form after a particularly lean series against Pakistan.

Similarly to Marsh and the retiring David Warner, Head’s aggression and ability to score quickly makes him a match-winner when he is on song. But he has been below his best.

Pakistan planned for Head’s aggression with some clever field placements and canny bowling and the left-hander fell for the trap on occasion, with Perth a prime example.

Pat Cummins holds his player of the series trophy. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
POSITIVE SIGNS EMERGE FOR PAKISTAN EVEN IN DEFEAT

On the eve of the summer, Pakistan captain Shan Masood vowed to take the fight to Australia while also acknowledging his developing team would improve for the experience.

After a disastrous start in Perth when thrashed by 360 runs, the visitors enjoyed some outstanding moments during the Boxing Day and SCG Tests and are arguably unfortunate not to have broken a drought on Australian soil dating back to 1995.

Rarely has the truism that catches win matches been more accurate than this series, with Pakistan’s fumbling fingers a start from Day 1 of the summer all the way to the conclusion.

Improved fielding is a must if Pakistan is to become a formidable Test nation in years to come. Pakistan legend Wasim Akram identified this as something that they must focus on.

But there are reasons for optimism amid belief this will be a stronger team in coming years.

Akram said he had seen elements of character and flashes of promise that he believes will hold the nation in good stead in the future.

“At least they have shown some grit and some fight, especially the tail-enders,” he said.

“They are fighting it out. There are some positive things from Pakistan in this series.”

Australian great Adam Gilchrist identified the emergence of Aamer Jamal, who had an astonishing series as a debutant, as a clear positive Pakistan can celebrate.

“Rizwan has been great. Masood has been pretty good,” he said on Fox Cricket.

“There have been some signs from other players as well. Ayub … looked the part in the second innings.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins praised the touring Pakistanis after the third Test in Sydney, telling reporters: “I feel really happy that we got on the right side of a couple of tight moments, but it could have gone the other way, also.

“I thought Pakistan were high quality. Test cricket, there is nothing harder than playing away from home, because the conditions are always so different.

“But I thought they played really well. At the MCG, it could have gone either way and if it wasn’t for the hour of power last night, this one could have gone the other way as well.

“It was a great series. I really thought it was played in great spirits as well.”