AUS vs PAK: Andrew McDonald heaps praise at retiring David Warner, calls 'greatest ever three-format player'

Australian cricket will witnessthe end of an era in the third Test match against Pakistan as veteran batter David Warner will call time on his illustrious career. Warner, included in the Test squad for the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) contest will bid adieu to the red-ball format as they prepare to inflict a whitewash on Pakistan as they lead the three-match series 2-0. Ahead of his farewell contest coach Andrew McDonald was full of praise for the local boy calling him the ‘greatest ever three-format player’.

McDonald heaps praise

“He is probably our greatest ever three-format player,” McDonald said while addressing the media ahead of the SCG contest.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

“He’ll be a loss. Other people have been gunning for him for a period of time but for us, internally, we’ve seen the great value and what he brings to the table, hence why we’ve kept picking him. He repaid that faith in the first Test match.

“It can be hard to replace someone who is striking at 70, averaging 45 (and has made the) most ever runs as an Australian opener,” the Aussie coach further added.

Having announced his retirement from the red-ball format for the national side Warner’s inclusion for the SCG Test was inevitable. He had a superb start to the three-match series having scored 164 at the Perth Stadium leading the hosts to a massive win. His selection had initially sparked a row as former player Mitchell Johnson sighted not to give Warner a fairytale farewell having been indulged in controversies in his career.

ALSO READ |Australia women beat India by three runs in second ODI to take unassailable lead in three-match series

The southpaw will go down as one of the greats of the game having amassed 8695 runs in Test format from 111 matches. In his illustrious career, he scored 26 Test hundreds,eighth-highest for the Aussies in the format.

Warner won’t be in action during the West Indies tour and will instead play in the ILT20 which will be held in the United Arab Emirates in January. The national team selectors are already on the hunt to get Warner’s replacement as Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw are likely to be included in future squads despite them missing out on the SCG Test against Pakistan.