From the moment he took Dale Steyn apart with his incredible display of hitting in that T20 match at the MCG four years ago, we knew we had someone special on our hands. Some traditionalists didn't like what they saw that evening, and for some time after - that wasn't supposed to happen to Steyn, and there was a pecking order in the game for which Warner seemed to have no regard. Besides, he wasn't even playing first-class cricket.

David Warner scored at one day international rates during the Third Test. Credit:Peter Heeger

But Warner kept telling us he was good - batting either left or right handed - and he continued to produce remarkable innings in the game's short forms, for NSW and for IPL franchises. Then he began to make the cynics take notice with runs in Sheffield Shield cricket.

The most remarkable thing about Warner's beginning in Test cricket was that it featured a relatively slow and responsible century in Hobart when Australia lost to the Kiwis. But it didn't take him long to return to type, and a sensational century in Perth against India convinced all and sundry that not only did we have an opening batsman who was worthy of his position, but cricket had its most valuable marketing tool since Adam Gilchrist at his peak.

The Warner trail of destruction has continued ever since, despite the controversies he has embroiled himself in. He was confrontational and aggressive against England throughout our summer, he murdered the Proteas in Adelaide last season and he has driven them insane right now.