NEW DELHI: Former coach
John Buchanan
, who led Australia to two 50-over World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007, has expressed his opinion that
David Warner
does not qualify as one of the cricketing greats. According to Buchanan, the title of "great" should be reserved for exceptional cricketers such as Don Bradman and Shane Warne.
Buchanan, who served as the coach of the Australian team from 1999 to 2007, oversaw one of the most successful periods in Australian cricket.
It's worth noting that Warner, who recently retired from Test cricket, did not have the opportunity to play under Buchanan, as he made his debut for the Australian team in 2009.
Asked whether Warner was “great”, Buchanan, speaking on SEN Breakfast, replied: “I don't think so".
The 70-year-old Buchanan, who led Australia to victory in the 2006 Champions Trophy and guided them to a world record of 16 consecutive Test wins on two occasions, emphasised his criteria for considering cricketers as greats of the game.
According to Buchanan, individuals deserving of the title "greats" are those who have achieved something truly exceptional, setting them apart in a way that others cannot easily replicate.
“I think he (Warner) has certainly performed exceptionally well throughout this career, he sits on 8000+ runs, he's played over 100 Test matches, over 160 ODIs and nearly 100 T20s.
“His averages are reasonable compared to all those in the various formats, his strike rate is obviously higher because of the way he plays the game.
“On a performance basis, he's right up there. But greats of the game, in my opinion, are people that really do and have done something exceptional that others just can't match, so therefore you automatically go to the (Don) Bradmans, (Glenn) McGraths, (Shane) Warnes, they're the greats in my opinion."
The 37-year-old Warner concluded his Test career with a total of 112 matches, amassing 8786 runs, which ranks 22nd on the all-time list. His impressive batting average stood at 44.59, accompanied by a remarkable strike rate of 70.19.
In ODIs, Warner showcased his batting prowess with a tally of 6932 runs at an average of 45.30. His strike rate in ODIs was even more remarkable, standing at 97.26. These statistics place him sixth on the list of the best strike rates for Australia and 48th overall in ODI cricket.
My autobiography is going to raise some eyebrows: Warner
Warner has confirmed in an interview with the Club Prairie Fire podcast that he is working on his autobiography. However, he did not provide specific details about whether the book will delve into the infamous sandpaper gate incident, the ball-tampering scandal that occurred in South Africa in 2018.
As of now, there is no set publication date for Warner's autobiography, leaving fans and readers curious about the content and revelations that may be included in the book, particularly regarding the events surrounding the controversial ball-tampering incident.
When pressed by podcast host and former teammate
Adam Gilchrist
on whether he would provide his full account of the infamous incident, Warner chose to keep the answer vague.
"...My side of the story and all that, that could be told whenever. There are going to be some things in the book that are definitely going to be related to 2018. It's not potentially going to be around what I know, what others know, because then it just becomes a tit-for-tat.
“It's not that kind of story. I want it to be about my journey, my upbringing. There are going to be a few things in there.
“You have the Joe Root saga (when he punched Root in 2013)... There are so many different things in there, there are a lot of things in there. It'll be an interesting read and when the time comes we can all pick it to pieces.”
Warner did, however, add that "there are going to be a lot of things in that book that I think are going to raise some eyebrows.”
Warner received a lifetime leadership ban in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in 2018. The incident involved Warner's teammate,
Cameron Bancroft
, being caught with sandpaper in his trouser pocket, leading to Australia admitting to ball-tampering.
Of the three cricketers punished in connection with the scandal — captain Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft being the other two — Warner received the most severe penalty.
In 2022, following an amendment to Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct, Warner initially intended to appeal against the ban. However, he later decided against it, reportedly upon learning that the review panel hearing was to be conducted in public. The decision not to appeal signaled Warner's acceptance of the sanctions imposed on him in the wake of the ball-tampering controversy.
(With PTI inputs)
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