MATCH STORIES
Follow UsOn June 6 (Thursday), David Warner’s legacy as Australia’s G.O.A.T in the shortest format was crystalised when he went past Aaron Finch’s tally of 3120 runs.
But when you microscopically look at it, Warner’s legacy as the G.O.A.T should have never been a question, considering his record at the global event. He’s an undisputed champion, with 862 runs in T20 World Cups before the clash against arch-rivals.
Also Read: The Bull's Last Dance
Even to this standard, Warner knew he had a statement to make, especially after a scratchy 51-ball 56 against Oman, where he didn’t look his vintage self. It was evident as every big shot felt like Warner was trying to manufacture something out of thin air.
If you had watched Warner in India over the last few months, you’d know that Warner wasn’t Warnering. He was far away from what you would expect from The Bull, who made a career from damaging bowling units.
However, cometh the big day, cometh DAVID WARNER!!
When Warner and Travis Head walked out to bat against England, all eyes were definitely on Head. All the debate was whether Head was going to cause any damage or not. But Warner rolled back the years and smacked the living daylight out of their arch-rivals.
By the time he faced his first ball, Head was already 18 off nine balls, smashing Will Jacks. England’s tactics to bowl with two off-spinners on a fresh wicket was already exposed. But it further plummeted when Warner moved across, riding the bounce for a six off his first ball.
One ball, six. Strike rate of 600. This is what dreams are made of.
Warner made his intentions quite clear. One ball later, he reverse swept Jacks for a single. But his real battle was always going to be with Jofra Archer. Before the clash today in Barbados, the southpaw was dismissed four times, scoring 27 off just 31.
His struggles against Archer were commonly known, but he didn’t stop attacking the pacer even then. But come Mark Wood’s pace, Warner was ready. He didn’t have to do anything extravagant. Warner’s leg-side was also the short boundary, which meant he had to just time the ball.
It is what he did.
Warner whipped Wood for a six over the mid-wicket region. He then topped it with another pull shot for back-to-back sixes, putting the express pacer under serious pressure. It resulted in Wood bowling a full toss, which Warner didn’t spare either.
For any budding batter, if you want to learn anything about game awareness, watch Warner bat in that particular over against Wood. He used the combination of high pace and short boundary to the best. He wasn’t done with three sixes, either. Warner moved across to put one past the fine-leg fielder for a four. Throughout his innings, Warner targeted the short boundary scoring 29 off nine deliveries.
Watching Warner from the other end, Head too accelerated so that England’s decision to bowl first became problematic. It took Australia just four overs to already put 55 runs past them without any response. Bad became worse when Head took on Ali for 11 runs in three balls before Warner’s last contribution with the bat - a four.
By the time England threw the first punch, Australia had already raced towards their best powerplay score - 74/2 - with Warner scoring 39 of those, his second-most runs in one innings inside the first six overs.
Unlike the Bull market, which has its ups and downs, Warner’s carnage never has its low. And when that is a World Cup encounter, he’s as switched on as an employee in March.
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