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The 37-year-old, set to retire from Test cricket after the series against Pakistan, has enjoyed a remarkable career that, alongside its successes, has been marked by controversies such as the infamous ball-tampering scandal during a match against South Africa in 2018.
‘I loved having Warner in the team’
“Davey has always been a tough character, someone I loved having in the team, that intent, that aggressive approach,” Clarke told ESPN’s ‘Around The Wicket’ show.
“But he was the same off the field, a little bull, and got into a little bit of trouble along the way,” said Clarke, who was Australia’s captain in 2013 when Warner was suspended for his altercation with Joe Root in a Birmingham bar, after which he missed the first two Tests of that year’s Ashes.
“But I 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 I think he deserves a lot of credit.”
Warner’s aggressive style of cricket didn’t initially win over many skeptics when he transitioned from T20s to make the cut in Australia’s first-class cricket. However, according to Clarke, Warner succeeded in silencing the doubters with his performances and ultimately proved his worth.
“He’s had a stellar career, opening the batting (is) such a hard position,” Clarke said.
“There were a lot of doubts around the way Davey played. Could he cut it in Test cricket? (He) started as a T20 player and there was always that risk. I think from day one everyone saw the talent, very gifted, can do things that a lot of players can’t do.
“And he’s been able to manage that role as an opening batsman but keep his intent, which is easier said than done.”
Drawing parallel with Hayden
Elaborating further on Warner, Clarke drew a comparison with former Australia openers Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater.
“An Australian batsman that set the tone when it came to opening batting was Matthew Hayden — I used to love watching Haydos and Michael Slater walk out and bat and play that aggressive role — and think Davey continued in that manner.
“If the ball was full and there to drive early in his innings he’d take it on, if it was short he took on that pull or hook shot, he wanted to score runs.
“That’s the name of the game but it’s easier said than done, trying to do that against a brand new ball in Test cricket. Deserves a lot of praise,” Clarke added.
‘Perfect timing’
He said it’s perfect timing for Warner to retire from the Test format at his home town Sydney.
“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,” Clarke said.
“Now the balance is going to be between playing domestic T20s and stepping up to play internationally. He’ll still have to earn his selection.
“Think his form in domestic T20 is something the selectors will be looking at. We have a lot of young players coming through in that T20 format that they might pick for the World Cup. Again, the way Davey’s played in all three formats is credit to him.”
Warner has played 111 Tests and scored 8,695 runs at an average of 44.58, including 26 centuries and a career-best score of 335 not out against Pakistan in 2019.
(With PTI inputs)
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