During the latest Australia VS South Africa Test Series match, opener David Warner had to retire from the match. After the tea break on Day two, Warner scored a double ton, off just 254 balls but needed help off the field after reaching the milestone.
It was reported that the player had injured himself while celebrating. However, half an hour before tea, when Warner was on 124, he had to be treated for a cramp first. It did not help that it was a scorching 37 Celsius day.
When Warner completed his double century by hitting four off Lungi Ngidi he got another standing ovation and slumped to his knees, pumping his arms in the air with a roar.
How It Happened?
The player then got to his feet and leaped into the air. This was a mistake since he ended up suffering a cramp in his left leg as he landed and was left propping himself up with his bat before being helped from the field.
While Warner was forced to retire during the second day against South Africa, reports say he would continue to bat if deemed fit.
With Warner’s score, Australia ended the day 197 runs ahead. This was the opener’s 100th test and it was a huge recovery after scoring only three runs in the series opener.
The 254-ball knock included 16 fours as well as two sixes off Keshav Maharaj. It was his third double century, his 25th hundred and his first ton in nearly three years.
In an interview after the match, batsman Steve Smith stated, “He played beautifully. The more he started to cramp the more shots he started to play and everything seemed to be coming out of the middle. It was an amazing knock and nice to be up the other end for a large chunk of it.”
Warner was not the only one to get injured during the match. After his departure, all-rounder Cameron Green, who took five wickets on day one, also had to retire hurt after being hit on his right index finger by a short Anrich Arno Nortje delivery.
In addition to Warner and Green, Mitchell Starc also got injured. The player had injured his finger while taking a catch and has not taken the field since. According to sources, it seems like the trio will not be a part of the third Test match that starts on January 4.
While no players from the South Africa team sustained an injury, there was a close call. At one point batter, Anrich Nortje got knocked over by the host broadcaster’s ‘Spidercam’. The camera which is suspended on cables and provides aerial and close-up views of the action ended up hitting the player but he was quick to get back up.
“I moved my head and then I saw the camera and I was a little bit too late. It was quite quick,” said Nortje, who added it did not affect his bowling.