Australia’s head coach Justin Langer has thrown his weight behind David Warner, who has been in the eye of the storm for hitting a big six off Mohammad Hafeez in the semi-final against Pakistan. He had bowled a rank long hop that bounced twice before the batsman stepped out of the pitch to reach the ball to hit it for a six.
Many former cricketers have taken a dig at Warner and other former Australian players calling the shot “unsportsmanlike” and against the spirit of the game but for Langer, the shot was “one of the best things” he has ever seen in the game of cricket. He said that no cricketer can have the instinct to hit such balls and the ability to hit them for such a long distance.
He also said that the shot was well within Warner’s right as a batsman on the crease and people questioning his sportsmanship should also see him walking when he felt he edged the ball to the wicketkeeper to put things in perspective.
"Oh my gosh, it's one of the best things I've ever seen in the game of cricket," the enthusiastic Australia coach said. “I can't believe anyone would have the instincts to do that - it was unbelievable. In fact, most people probably would've been not sure what to do ... it was a no-ball and to have the talent and ability to hit it for six - unbelievable."
"Anyone who thinks (that six was) unsportsmanlike, that (walking) probably evens it up a bit.”
Australia defeated Pakistan in the second semi-final of the tournament and Warner played a key role in giving them early momentum with the bat while Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis used all their muscle power to lead them into the final against New Zealand.