David Warner retired from Test cricket after the 3rd Test win against Pakistan, marking an end to his checkered career as one of the greatest batters of his generation. David Warner‘s numbers are phenomenal- in 112 Tests, Warner scored 8786 runs at an average of 44 plus. David Warner was quite fearless in his approach and was ready to take down the opponent which made him a star cricketer in the red ball format.
However, David Warner was an underachiever in the red ball format in India, scoring only 414 runs in 19 innings at an average close to 22. Aakash Chopra pointed out that the numbers do not dilute the greatness of David Warner, as many cricketers have floundered in Indian conditions. Aakash Chopra made a huge statement on David Warner and compared him with one of the greatest captain Ricky Ponting while speaking on his You Tube channel.
Aakash Chopra’s unique take on David Warner
He cited the example of Ricky Ponting, who has the 2nd highest runs in cricket history. In India, he scored only 662 runs in 25 innings at an average of 26 plus. India remains a challenge for touring countries, including Australia. They managed to win only once in 2004 and lost the last five-test series in India. This does not change that Australia has been the most dominant force in red-ball cricket in the last 15 years.
Aakash Chopra compares Australia’s performance in India to the trend of comparing Indian performance in SENA countries. Indian batters have done exceptionally well in their home conditions, which speaks volumes about the stupendous performance of the Test team in India. Aakash Chopra is right. The blip in India does not hide the shine of David Warner’s great career. David Warner is a legend.
“That was a blip in Ricky Ponting’s career as well”, – Aakash Chopra says on his YouTube channel on David Warner’s ordinary Test performances in India.