Anthony Albanese slammed over national plea for David Warner's Baggy Green

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been called out for weighing-in on the David Warner baggy green saga ahead of his farewell Test match. Warner took to social media on Tuesday to claim his treasured baggy green had been taken ahead his 112th and final Test match of his career in Sydney in the third Test against Pakistan.

In a heartfelt video message to Instagram, Warner said he is desperate to get them back so he can walk out onto the SCG pitch in his final red-ball match for Australia wearing his baggy green with pride. On Wednesday, Warner took to the field in a replacement baggy green with his children.

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Unfortunately, Warner's baggy green hadn't been returned. And just before his final Test match in Sydney, the Aussie prime minister weighed-in on the drama and called for the prized possession to be returned. “I do hope if it hasn’t happened already, whoever knows anything about the missing hat (returns it soon),” Albanese said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

“Dave Warner has represented Australia on more than 100 occasions, the baggy green hat belongs to him and it should be returned.” Albanese also sent a message to Channel 7 Sunrise reporter Liam Tapper who read the message out on air.

“A missing baggy green? Well, that’s just not cricket!” the text reportedly read. “Davey’s earned the right to wear his one final time. If you can help, let’s make it happen.”

While Albanese's sentiment was right, Australians became frustrated the prime minister was giving air time to Warner's baggy green in one of the first press conferences of 2024. Albanese will be at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the third and final test in the series, but Australians felt the message was misguided.

David Warner's plea for baggy green return

Warner was handed a standing ovation as he walked out onto the field on Wednesday morning ahead of his final appearance in Test cricket for Australia. But only 24 hours earlier, Warner was pleading for his baggy green to be returned after the unfortunate situation unfolding ahead of his farewell.

"Unfortunately someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage which had my backpack and my girl's presents in there. Inside this backpack was my baggy greens," Warner said in a message to Instagram.

"It's sentimental to me and is something that I would love to have back in my hands walking out there come this week. If it is the backpack you really wanted I have a spare one here. You won't get into trouble. Please reach out to Cricket Australia or myself via my social media and I am happy to give this (the backpack) to you if you return my baggy green."

Warner had previously lost his baggy green ahead of a Test tour of Bangladesh in 2017, but it was later found in a bag at his home by his wife Candice. For the first Test in Dhaka, Warner was issued a replacement hat and went on to score his maiden Test century in Asia.

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