But his captain Tim Paine had other ideas. He signaled for Australia to declare the innings as soon as Warner went past Sir Don Bradman’s highest Test score of 334.

Did Paine and Australia rob Warner of the rare opportunity of going past the coveted 400 mark? This is what Warner had to say about his chances:

Warner also admitted that he Lara’s record was on his mind as soon as he crossed the 300-run mark. When asked what his target was towards the end of the innings, he replied:

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In the context of the match, the declaration didn’t exactly seem necessary at that point of time. The brittle Pakistan batting lineup has not showed up on this tour so far, and was in fact dismissed for 302 on Day 3. With more than two and a half days to go, the match might well get over by the fourth day itself.

Moreover, Pakistan had consumed just 171 overs in both their innings put together in the first Test, where they were thrashed by an innings and 5 runs.

Paine on his part insisted that the declaration was made keeping the best interests of the team in mind.

Paine’s point of view is understandable. But given the conditions and the level of the opposition, it wasn’t wrong for people to expect some leeway. The weather has been clear and Pakistan’s batsmen are unlikely to last two more days; how much harm could delaying the declaration by an hour have done?

Yes, the team comes before the individual any day, but Australia were batting at a whopping run rate of 4.64 runs per over. More pertinently, Warner was scoring his runs at a strike rate of 80.14. Even if Australia had waited for another 10-12 overs, Warner could have gone past Lara.

Australia would’ve likely won the match anyway, with or without a 400. But now this match will go do down as just another triple-century win, rather than a historic, record-breaking one that Warner and his family would’ve cherished like no other.

By putting the ’team over the individual’, Australia have robbed Warner a rare chance at history. And it’s a chance that does not present itself everyday.

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