Dream Come True: Australia's Warner Retires From Test Cricket

Australian opener David Warner drew the curtain Saturday on his 112-Test career with a swashbuckling 57 against Pakistan, leaving his home Sydney Cricket Ground to a standing ovation. The polarising 3

David Warner (Image Source: Google)

Controversial entertainer -

Childhood friend and long-time opening partner Usman Khawaja said it had been an emotional day.

"It's been a long journey and it's bizarre. Everything comes to an end, but you never think it will," he said.

"I'm really proud, particularly the way Davey went out and batted today, entertaining right to the very end."

While a great with the bat, Warner's exploits will forever be overshadowed by the role he played in the notorious "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal of 2018.

He was seen as the chief plotter when Cameron Bancroft used sandpaper to scuff the ball before a crude attempt to conceal the evidence down his trousers during the third Test in Cape Town.

Along with skipper Steve Smith, Warner was suspended for a year by Cricket Australia, stripped of the vice-captaincy and banned from ever leading the team.

Despite the controversies Warner was welcomed back into the Australia fold when his ban ended and made his comeback during the Ashes series against England in 2019.

He has been a fixture ever since with selectors now facing the difficult decision of who replaces him, with a two-Test home series against the West Indies starting on January 17 in Adelaide.

Recognised openers Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are seen as the contenders to fill the role.

However, Smith added a twist to the plot this week when he put his hand up to move up from number four and do the job.

That would open the door for the return of young all-rounder Cameron Green in the middle of the order, having been overlooked in recent Tests in favour of a resurgent Mitchell Marsh.