• Warner’s dazzling return to SCG via helicopter for BBL 13.
• Sydney Test heroics concluded his red-ball career.
• Warner’s swift schedule: wedding, Sydney Sixers, then Dubai Capitals in ILT20.

David Warner is set to make a dazzling return to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) by helicopter before his appearance in the Big Bash League (BBL) 13. Following his retirement from Test cricket, the 37-year-old opener is not bidding adieu quietly, and cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting his dramatic arrival.

Warner’s last-minute heroics in the Sydney Test, which contributed to Australia’s victory, marked the end of his red-ball career after an impressive 112 matches. Now, he is ready to take center stage once again, this time descending onto the SCG outfield in a helicopter. Originally planning to use Allianz Stadium, the adjacent cricket ground, the organizers opted for the iconic SCG outfield, where the “Thanks Dave” logo adorned the field during his farewell Test.

Weather permitting, Warner is expected to touch down around 5 pm (Sydney Time) on Friday, creating an electrifying atmosphere that could attract a full-capacity audience. His whirlwind schedule includes attending a wedding in the Hunter Valley, followed by a swift departure to Cessnock airport to reach the SCG. The cricketing maestro is set to participate in the Sydney Sixers’ last three regular-season games before jetting off to join the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20.

While this might not be the last sighting of Warner this summer, Cricket Australia is optimistic about his return from Dubai to play in the upcoming T20I series against West Indies. The matches in Hobart, Adelaide, and Perth in February will mark Warner’s final internationals on Australian soil, as he recently announced his immediate retirement from one-day cricket. The T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in June is slated to be his international swansong.

Adding to the BBL excitement, Warner’s successor at the top of the Test batting order, Steve Smith, is also set to make a brief appearance for the Sydney Sixers on Friday. However, the team will miss the services of Englishman Tom Curran, who concludes his BBL stint prematurely due to a knee injury. Curran’s season took an unfortunate turn with a four-match ban for intimidating an umpire, and despite an unsuccessful appeal, he issued a public apology.

As cricket enthusiasts anticipate Warner’s helicopter arrival at the SCG, the stage is set for a spectacular evening of cricket, marking another chapter in the ‘summer of David Warner.’

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