Thank you, Warner!

A warrior? A villain? David Warner leaves behind a trail of unknowables.

There might be a few more boundaries and one last walk back to the pavilion with bat raised against Pakistan in his home arena at Sydney Cricket Ground this week. Warner, like a few others have had, will fancy a grand farewell at the end of the Pakistan series, maybe a big hundred at home, in a victory that caps a successful season.

But perfect endings are rare in sport, and even more in cricket, but Warner isn't the one to underestimate his superpowers with the willow each time the situation demands.

So will end a career worth tribute for its basic markers alone: 111 Tests (8,695 runs, 26 centuries, and a batting average of 44.58) and 161 ODIs (6,932 runs, 22 centuries, a batting strike-rate so close to 100 as to make it petty to note the differential).

In the annals of the sport, Warner's journey unfurls as a saga replete with prodigious achievements and monumental milestones, crafting a resonant melody that reverberates deeply. The sheer audacity with which he has orchestrated several of his innings has enraptured fans and opponents alike, leaving an indelible imprint upon the cricketing firmament. Yet, to confine his legacy merely to statistical greatness would be an egregious oversight.

Perhaps beyond anything else, it was a career flourishing in the face of utmost misery, with his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal entwining Warner and his cricket career in a web of ignominy. The repercussions of his involvement in the scandal cast a shadow over his reputation and elicited severe punitive measures, ranging from substantial bans from international cricket to a period of exile that profoundly impacted his career trajectory.

This regrettable episode marred his otherwise esteemed career, serving as a stark reminder of the perils of transgressing the ethical boundaries that underpin the spirit of ‘fair play' and ‘spirit of cricket'. Warner endeavoured to make amends, however successfully, by acknowledging his wrongdoing and eventually striving to rebuild his reputation through introspection and a renewed commitment to upholding the sanctity that cricket lay claim to.

"...Reflecting back on that whole period, my whole career, I've got no regrets because you are going to have a lot of hurdles you are going to have to jump. There's going to be obstacles in the way, but you have to move forward and I've done that with dignity," Warner was quoted as saying by AFP.

Whatever transpires in the next week or so, there are reasons to believe that the veteran opener will be forever etched in the Australian memories. Warner's reliability as an opening batsman shone through when Australia were less sure of themselves, although he was also a big part of the team lifting their sixth World Cup in India. Sure, the top six were central to that, but the opening chapter is always the key. And who else but Warner? His legacy transcends the mere accumulation of runs and records, more of a tapestry woven with threads of resilience and an unrelenting dedication to perfection.

Warner's legacy is not confined to the hallowed boundaries of the cricket pitch, rather, it is a mosaic of brilliance, patience, and benevolence. As the curtains draw on his illustrious career, his legacy remains an enduring testament to the heights that can be scaled through talent, perseverance, and an unwavering will regardless of circumstances.

It won't be easy - all the fronting up, the unrelenting scrutiny, the necessary obligation, the many autographs, and the idea of putting his team ahead of himself. Perks, certainly, but it is also no wonder that he is about to slump towards retirement with relief.

Thank you, Warner!