'He Never Gave You an Inch or a Sniff on the Field': David Warner Names the Toughest Bowler He Faced

Swashbuckling Australia opener David Warner named the toughest bowler he has faced in his illustrious career as he is set to play his farewell Test against Pakistan. Warner has announced his retirement from ODIs and the third Test against Pakistan starting January 3 is going to be his final in the longest format.

In a press conference ahead of his farewell Test at his home ground Sydney Cricket Ground, Warner was asked about the toughest bowler he faced and without wasting much he named Proteas legend Dale Steyn.

Warner recalled an instant from a Test match from the 2016-17 series between Australia and South Africa and revealed the conversation he had with Shaun Marsh while facing Steyn at WACA.

“Without doubt it’s Dale Steyn. I go back to the WACA (the first Test of the 2016-17 home series against South Africa) when me and Shaun Marsh had to go out for an ugly 45-minute session. Shaun came down to me and said, ‘I can’t pull him so I don’t know how we’re going to go about facing him’. He put me on my backside and I think he broke his shoulder as well that game,” Warner told reporters.

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The veteran Aussie opener further said that Steyn was always a fierce competitor on the field who never gave the batter a smile.

“He’s a fierce competitor who swung the ball back into the left-hander, which is similar to Mitchell Starc swinging the ball back into the right-hander at pace. He was always a fiery customer who never gave you a smile and never gave you an inch or a sniff on the field,” Warner added.

Meanwhile, Warner on Monday announced his retirement from ODIs ahead of his farewell Test against Pakistan this week, but kept the door open to play the 2025 Champions Trophy if needed.

The Champions Trophy has not been played since 2017, but is set to be resurrected in 2025 in Pakistan. Traditionally 50-over cricket, reports have said there is a push underway to make it T20.

The 37-year-old will pad up in his 112th and final Test in his home city Sydney on Wednesday, having plundered 8,695 runs at an average of 44.58, with 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries.