'There Was A Bit Of A Fight' - Michael Clarke Reveals Shocking Details From Warner's Career
David Warner will play his last Test for Australia tomorrow [X.com]
One of the greats of the game, opener David Warner will take the field for one last time in whites when Australia plays Pakistan in the third and final match of the ongoing three-Test series starting tomorrow.
Having already announced his One-Day International (ODI) retirement on Monday, Warner will finish his 12-year-long Test career with 112 matches and as Australia's fifth-highest run-getter in red-ball cricket.
Former Australia captain and someone who saw Warner blossom under his stint, Michael Clarke has revealed how the opener's talent kept his Cricket Australia contract from being ripped up in the early part of his career.
Warner has been quite controversial for both his off-and-on field antics, which has several times put the opener's career in jeopardy.
Speaking to ESPN's Around The Wicket, Clarke, who captained Warner in 39 matches, stated how Warner found support from all quarters given his importance to the Australian setup.
Here's what Clarke said
"Davey has always been a tough character, someone I loved having in the team, that intent, that aggressive approach. But he was the same off the field, a little bull, and got into a little bit of trouble along the way. But think he had a lot of support and help from, certainly, senior players and around Cricket Australia that helped him not have his contract ripped up.
"There was a bit of a fight to keep him because he was so important to the team. [There was] the confidence, being his captain, that [at] the start of his career that like all of us, we are young, [he] needed to learn lessons along the way. Davey's game has really been learnt at the highest level, playing for Australia, which is not easy to do so think he deserves a lot of credit."
Clarke, who won the ICC World Cup 2015 alongside Warner further added that the Sydney Test would have been a perfect swansong for the left-handed great to retire from all formats.
"Guess I thought it would have been the ideal time to walk away from international cricket in general but [he] wants to keep playing T20 cricket. Now the balance is going to be form playing domestic T20s verses stepping up and playing international. He'll still have to earn his selection."
Earlier, Warner indicated his desire to finish his international career post ICC T20 WC 2024.
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