A desperate search for retiring cricketer David Warner’s missing baggy green may have ended on Friday, but questions remain about how, and where, the prized hat was lost for a second time.

The veteran opener breathed a sigh of relief after he started his 112th and final Test match for Australia without the iconic cap that Warner reported had gone missing earlier this week.

The subsequent search for the iconic paraphernalia had sports fans hooked just six years after Warner was forced to don a pristine baggy green for four hot days during a Test in Dhaka in 2017.

Warner reportedly began official proceedings with sports body Cricket Australia to replace the cap before his wife, Candice Warner, finally found the hat during a final search of the family home.

Warner broke the good news on Instagram after he was told after play on Thursday that the backpack containing the baggy green and some presents for his children had been returned.

“Hi everyone, 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 a post to Instagram on Friday morning.

“Thanks to all involved and I am extremely grateful. Qantas, the freight company, our hotels and team management. Thank you.”

Anthony Albanese, who attended the McGrath Foundation Pink Test on Friday morning, also expressed his joy at the return of Warner’s baggy green.

“We know that this is something that can’t be bought in a shop, it’s got to be earned. Dave Warner has earned it,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is a wonderful send-off here at the SCG for Dave Warner and it looks as though … he certainly will be able to bat a second time and I wish him well.

“Hopefully, he gets to wear the baggy green if they bring on some spinners at the end.”

However, some fans have shared their scepticism over the baggy green’s miraculous return so soon after vanishing into thin air, with the cricketer neglecting to share how it came back into his possession.

“Great news, David. Given u haven’t mentioned where it was found assume u had it all the time or didn’t pack it as originally made out,” one person wrote in the comments.

One fan joked that “it was probably in (Warner’s wife) Candice’s bag,” the entire time, while another said it was “in the PR managers office all along”.

“Warner’s baggy green going missing and then turning up. There’s something fishy about this,” one person posted on X – formerly known as Twitter.

A second person suggested that an international cricket star who has jet setted across the globe would know better than to pack something “so valuable” in his luggage.

“If it doesn’t make sense it isn’t true … why would an experienced traveller such as David put something as valuable as his baggy green in his luggage and not take it on board with him in his personal luggage,” they said in a post to X.

Other fans were just grateful to see the hat back in the right hands for Warner’s last game with the team.

“Prayed for it.....! Glad to know that you have found it back. All the best for the last test,” one person said.

“Oh thank heavens for that. Enjoy the rest of your test,” another wrote.

It was a difficult few days for Warner, who pleaded for whoever took his backpack to return it, assuring them there would be no punishment if they did.

The Prime Minister even got involved, while Pakistan skipper Shan Masood was stunned to hear that someone would stoop so low as to steal something so sentimental.

The retiring Warner has been wearing a spare baggy green for the first two days of the SCG Test match against Pakistan but can now wear one of his own for the final few moments of his red-ball career.

“Unfortunately this is my last resort to do this, but a couple of days ago our bags got freighted via Qantas,” Warner said earlier this week.

“We’ve gone through CCTV footage. They’ve got some blind spots apparently. We’ve spoken to the Quay West Hotel who we absolutely trust, and we’ve gone through their cameras and no one has come into our rooms.

“Unfortunately, someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage which had my backpack and my girls’ presents in there.

“Inside this backpack were my baggy greens. That’s sentimental to me and it’s something I’d love to have back in my hands walking out there come this week.

“If it’s the backpack that you really wanted, I have a spare on here. You won’t get in trouble. Please reach out to Cricket Australia or me via social media. I’m happy to give this to you if you return my baggy greens.”

It remains unclear who handed the backpack in and where it has been the past few days, but it’s a huge relief for Warner, who was dismissed for 34 at the SCG on Thursday in what could be his final Test innings.