Australia's head coach, Andrew McDonald, heaped praise on David Warner, calling the veteran opener the best all-format player ever to represent the country.

The 37-year-old left-hander is gearing up for his farewell Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), his home ground, against Pakistan. Earlier on Monday, January 1, 2024, Warner also called time on his ODI career, though he will continue to play T20I cricket.

Having already clinched the three-match Test series with its first two wins on home soil, Australia aims for a clean sweep against Pakistan in the final game starting on January 3, 2024, to make Warner's farewell game special at the SCG.

Read Also: David Warner bids adieu to ODI cricket ahead of farewell Test match

Andrew McDonald was quoted by Cricket.com.au saying: “In time, he will probably go down, but probably at the moment as it sits, he is probably our greatest ever all-three format player. He is going to drop out of one of those formats in terms of Test match cricket. He will be a loss.”

The Australian coach also admitted that it will be hard to replace Warner, as his retirement set the team on the hunt for a reliable opener in both Test and ODI cricket.

McDonald signed off by saying, “I know that people have been gunning for him for some time, but for us internally, we have seen the great value in what he brings to the table, hence why we have kept picking him. He repaid a bit of that faith in the first Test match. He's going to be hard to replace. Someone who strikes at 70 averaging 45, and most ever runs as an Australian opener.”