'Was an absolute menace': Usman Khawaja reveals how David Warner was during their childhood days

On January 1, Australian opener David Warner officially declared his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket. At 37 years old, Warner revealed that he would no longer participate in the longest white-ball format for Australia, marking the 2023 ODI World Cup as his final assignment. Warner concluded his ODI career on a triumphant note with a World Cup victory under his belt.

3 things you need to know

• David Warner was part of the Australian team that won the 2023 ODI World Cup
• Warner has played 161 ODI matches for his country since his debut in 2009
• The New South Wales-born star scored 6932 runs at an average of 45.30

Also Read: 'There is certainly something not right': Ex-cricketer's take on IND not winning a major tournament

Usman Khawaja on David Warner

Usman Khawaja, a seasoned Australian opener who has shared the cricket field with David Warner since their early days in age-group cricket, fondly reminisced about various memorable moments. Among these recollections, Khawaja humorously recounted an incident that showcased Warner's mischievous nature during their youth. At tea intervals in games, Warner and Khawaja would playfully use cherries to stain the clothes of other kids, knowing well that it would prove challenging to clean the shirts afterward.

“Davey was an absolute menace. He was a terror as a kid honestly. One of the stories I bring up all the time that I love was we used to have tea time and he always gravitated towards the cherries. He is a smart man and he knows those cherries stain. So we would pick up a cherry and chuck it at other people and teammates and the mum’s would be blowing up at the end of the day because they couldn’t get these cherry stains off. It is impossible to get cherry stains off,” Khawaja said. 

Both David Warner and Usman Khawaja are part of the Australian Test squad that is currently playing a three-match series against Pakistan. The third and final Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Warner's home turf, is expected to be his last game in the red-ball format for his country. It will be interesting to see if Warner announces his Test retirement in Sydney.