'Extremely grateful': David Warner reunited with missing baggy green caps

David Warner and Cricket Australia are still unsure of the movements of the backpack before it resurfaced at the team hotel.

Warner had offered a backpack to the person who had his caps if they were returned to him. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

David Warner has recovered both his missing baggy green caps and vows to treasure them for a lifetime.

"I am very pleased and relieved to let you all know that my baggy greens have been found, which is great news," he said in the video posted on Instagram this morning.

"Any cricketer knows how special their cap is, and I'll cherish them for the rest of my life."

Warner and Cricket Australia are still unsure of the movements of the backpack before it resurfaced at the team hotel.

"Thanks to all involved and I am extremely grateful. Qantas, the freight company, our hotels and team management. Thanks you [sic]," Warner said.

On 2 January, the eve of the final Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Warner took to Instagram to say his backpack containing two baggy green caps had gone missing in transit between Melbourne and Sydney.

"Inside this backpack was my baggy green. It's sentimental to me. It's something I'd love to have in my hands walking out there this week.

Warner said the team hotel and Qantas (the airline the team flew) had checked their CCTV footage and had not seen anybody take the backpack. He added that Qantas' cameras do have blind spots.

A Qantas Freight spokesperson said the team was doing "everything they could" to help find the bag.

In his video, Warner appealed to whoever had taken the bag to return it as well as the baggy greens. He also offered a replacement instead.

"If it's the backpack you really wanted, I have a spare one here," he said in his video.

"You won't get into trouble; please reach out to Cricket Australia or myself via my social media and I'm happy to give this to you if you return my baggy greens."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also echoed Warner's message.

"David Warner has represented Australia on more than 100 occasions. The baggy green caps belong to him. He has earned them and they should be returned."

Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Albanese said it was "a good thing" Warner was able to retrieve the caps before the end of his farewell Test match.

David Warner leaves the field after being dismissed by the bowling of Salman Ali Agha of Pakistan on the second day of the Third Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the SCG in Sydney, 4 January 2024. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts

"It's a good thing that Dave Warner has his baggy green back," Albanese told the media. "We know that this is something that can't be bought in a shop; it's got to be earned. David Warner has earned it and to be able to wear it in over 100 Test matches for Australia, this is a wonderful send-off here at the SCG for Dave Warner."

"It looks as though the way the test is going he certainly will get to bat a second time, and I wish him well," the prime minister added. "Hopefully he gets to wear the baggy green if they bring on some spinners at the end."

Cricket Australia is expected to provide an update soon on how Warner found his possessions.

Warner, who announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket at the start of the year, is currently playing in the final Test against Pakistan at the SCG.

He scored 34 runs off 68 balls in Australia’s first innings.