Warner: No better way to silence critics than runs on the board

Veteran opening batter David Warner has moved to silence the growing criticisms around his planned farewell tour this Australian summer, starting with a knock of 164 on the opening day of the Perth test against Pakistan.

The 37-year-old stirred up a buzz in the Australian media heading into the summer cricket season after suggesting he wanted to play his last Test match in Sydney in the 2024 New Year. Many, including Mitchell Johnson, disagreed with his ‘fairytale farewell’ considering his flagging form across 2023 and in the recent World Cup.

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And so, Warner walked out to the crease at Optus Stadium and issued his reply; his 26th career Test century, a huge 164 runs, and a leading performance that put Australia at 5-346 at stumps in the evening. You don’t get replies much stronger than that.

Then after letting his bat do the talking, he added comments on his own to the mix.

“It’s one of those things, there’s always going to be criticisms,” Warner told Adam Gilchrist in the tea break yesterday. “No better way to silence it than to put runs on the board.”

The opener extended his reply after the day’s play was wrapped up, suggesting the media whirlwind that had kicked up ahead of the three-match Pakistan series hadn’t bothered him—though he was going to take the chance to celebrate too. “It’s just anyone who wants to write stories about me and trying to get headlines, that stuff doesn’t bother me,” he said. “It’s just the fact I have to go out there, do what I have to do. I’m allowed to celebrate how I want.”

His wife, Candice Warner, joined the responses on Thursday with a “shush” emoji on Twitter alongside an image of her husband celebrating his knock just before tea on the day.