That’s a fair question. David Warner has turned into a loose cannon when he was once a happy-go-lucky swashbuckling opening batsman who viewed the baggy green as his Holy Grail.
He was an excitement machine who drew big crowds to watch him destroy any attack.
But in the space of three weeks, the 26-year-old has been fined $5,750 for an abusive Tweet against two Australian cricket scribes, and last night he copped an $11,500 fine and was suspended from all cricket until the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge starting July 10.
The charge?
Clipping England batsman Joe Root on the chin at a Birmingham nightclub at 2 in the morning last Sunday.
Which begs the question: why were Warner, Clint McKay, Phil Hughes, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Matt Wade at a nightclub at 2am?
It’s not as if they had something to celebrate. The Australian cricket team at the moment is a shambles, an embarrassment.
And Warner can’t buy a run with 0, 0, 9 in his last three visits to the crease.
In all fairness, the two Warner brain explosions aren’t of national import, nor a danger to national security,
But once a player is in Cricket Australia’s bad books, and that’s exactly where Warner is at the moment, there’s a fine line between being picked and punted.
The suspension means Warner will certainly miss the first Ashes Test, and will have precious few chances after that to regain his spot.
In short, David Warner is between a rock and hard place, with no room to move. He’s stuffed.
It’s interesting to read the message between three quotes, starting with Australian captain Michael Clarke waxing lyrical:
“Davey has great potential to be a leader of the Australian cricket team. He’s a wonderful guy, he’s a wonderful player”.
England legend Sir Ian Botham, no stranger to controversy in his illustrious career, said: “No big deal, David Warner chinned Joe Root, then apologised. Let’s get on with the cricket”.
But another former England skipper Michael Vaughan spat a few chips.
“You’ve got to have some kind of screw loose to do that (punch Root)”.
Somewhere between those quotes is what makes the David Warner of today tick.
For his own sake, and that of Australian cricket, he had better bite the bullet in a hurry.
The jury, which is Cricket Australia, is out.
But they will come back in a flash if Warner puts so much as a toe-nail out of place in the future.
And that will be that – a cricket tragedy of his own making.
Clavers
Guest
Without excusing Warner and the other Aussies who were out with him, the question could also be asked of Joe Root as to why he was out drinking after 2am. With the opposing team no less.
Simoc
Guest
Its a pity Warner can't punch let alone score runs at the moment. Shame because for Oz to win the series what is needed is to win the toss, bat and an opener blaze a century in the first test. Warner won't be there. Now only Watson is capable of that and the odds aren't great given his aversion to scoring tons.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Get with the times. He can tweet. That's good enough in the modern era.
davos44
Guest
Also dave I wonder how a player like doug walters who I have nothing but respect for.... would have faired in this media environment...I would suggest with the no of self appointed judgemental media harpies constantly patrolling for even the slightest indiscretion....not very well !
David Lord
Expert
Crap davos44. I never said or implied that era were saints, just sensible and responsible. Both sadly lacking in this lot.
Pete B
Guest
He has proven at times that he does have the temperament to play test cricket. That ton against NZ is a case in point. He can also change the game in a session as that ton against India showed. Nevertheless his form and lack of discipline means he deserves to be dropped. I do think he can come back though. I just hope he ends up more on the Ponting side of the pissed pillock ledger than the Symonds side.
Pete B
Guest
Steven Smith hasn't been too shabby. In India he was a different batsman to what I'd seen previously.
Pete B
Guest
You lucky so an so. When's the book coming out? It's past the statute of limitations surely.
cuzza
Guest
Who said he is leadership material? Don't you have to be able to speak?
AnthonyDArcy
Guest
You're entitled to your opinion, but when Botham says stuff like 'I've chinned a few people in my time and you move on' and when you look at incidents such as the Chappell/Botham fight, I'm inclined to think otherwise.
Disco
Roar Guru
I'd like to think a 5-0 thrashing in England (however unlikely) would shake things up but I don't think it would. The 0-4 humiliation in India had no affect whatsoever on the selectorial make-up, renewed implementation of the Argus Report. $utherland, I suspect, is mostly looking ahead to the Big Ba$h, Clarke's thinking about his own game/back issues and Uncle Arthur's watching videos of Shaun Marsh's IPL innings and pretending all of the problems are out of his control.
Disco
Roar Guru
"Wouldn’t have been unprovoked". This is Warner we're talking about. I don't imagine it takes much more than drinking a few beverages to make him act up. There is a massive discipline problem within the Australian national team, and being defensive and pretending otherwise only allows the status quo to continue. PS: What does this disciplinarian 'coach' do exactly?
Disco
Roar Guru
You should be $utherland's PA.
AnthonyDArcy
Guest
While that's a great point, 7 of Broad's 12 wickets as you say, came from 1 innings. Great effort and I'm certainly not knocking that performance, but as for the majority of the rest of his wickets, I didn't think they came about because of good bowling but poor batting. 5 wickets is only average, or below. Plus, Broad is notorious for up and down performances. Finn was equally up and down. All I'm really saying is, wickets aren't the only way of figuring out who's the biggest threat. Anderson in England will be lethal, given our recent history against swing bowling, and given how consistent he is with achieving swing. Swann on the other hand is a spinner, so he's an automatic threat to us.
Disco
Roar Guru
See also: the NSW players blowing smoke up each other's rear ends. I doubt that will aid Australia winning Test series over SA or Eng any time soon.
Disco
Roar Guru
Clarke's a good captain on the field but off it he is absolutely rubbish.
Disco
Roar Guru
Not really. They were mature, intelligent and professional enough for it not to affect their performance.
Disco
Roar Guru
He's viewed as a good bloke by the leadership numpties... unlike, say, that Johnny-come-lately, trained pilot Khawaja. Diversity of individuals? Pah! Let's all be gormless blokes towing the line to Arthur/Clarke's rule regardless of whether the best cricketers are being picked. The fact that those two are selectors is farcical quite frankly.
Disco
Roar Guru
All of these debacles (on and off the field) have occurred under Jamie $utherland's watch and yet there's no accountability or media pressure for him. He is the Teflon man. Must be so tough for him to face the media over Warner's indiscretions when he'd much rather be promoting 20/20 'cricket' at home and globally.
twodogs
Guest
He's bright enough disco. Plus he's got the cash. I reckon though his ego is no longer proportional to his ability but more in line with his delusions of fame. He'll settle down. probably just needs a couple of taps on his chin. The way he's going, probably be soon too.