David Warner reveals his body TOTALLY broke down in epic Boxing Day Test double century at the MCG

David Warner revealed he had ‘absolutely nothing’ left to give when he retired hurt following a marvellous double century against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test.

The 36-year-old ended a run of 27 innings without a Test ton and silenced the critics in style as he made 200 at the MCG in the second Test of the series against the Proteas.

Warner’s highest score since he made an unbeaten 335 against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval in November 2019 couldn’t have come at a better time as he celebrated his 100th Test.

It also ended a dismal run of form. The veteran opener came into the Boxing Day Test averaging just 17.5 after a miserable return of 105 runs across the first three Tests of the summer and averaged just 21.64 this year.

With series in India and England – where he averages 24.25 and 26.04 respectively – looming large on the horizon next year, Warner’s place in the team was under growing scrutiny.

But his gutsy effort took its toll as the searing-hot conditions at the MCG forced Warner down with cramps during his innings.

By the time he reached his double century, he was too spent to perform his iconic celebration and simply knelt down in front of the crowd instead. 

The Aussie veteran leapt in celebration after reaching his ton earlier in the innings

But he was too spent to wheel out his trademark celebration after reaching his double ton

‘I only did the [celebration] on my knees because I knew I couldn’t jump and then I said stuff that I’m going to try and jump and lo and behold my calf went on me that was the last thing to go on me and that was it,’ he told the Herald Sun. 

‘I had absolutely nothing. It started in my adductor early on, I had some pickle juice and then my forearm went first and I took my arm guard off that I normally wear and it just started going through the whole entire body.

‘I think I swept one and my hamstring went and then from there like it was yeah, it was horrible. 

‘It was a horrible feeling. I’ve never experienced those kind of cramps before and if you could have a camera in the change room for the next hour after I was off it was comical.’

Warner had to be helped off the field by medics after suffering severe cramps and fatigue

Warner was eventually helped off the field by the medics after reaching his milestone and was dismissed without adding to his score when he returned the following day.

If the heat took its toll on Warner’s body, the fallout from his leadership ban saga with Cricket Australia and a lack of runs weighed heavily on his mind.

‘These are things that you don’t want in your mind when you’re going to training or you’re going to the game so, for me it was just trying to get in the right frame of mind and I just couldn’t,’ he said.

‘It was it was difficult. And then when you’re out in the middle you’re trying to be as positive as you can. And as I said I was hitting them as well as I thought I could but I just getting no luck and you make your own luck in this game.’