The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Warner in trouble yet again after grade cricket no-show [UPDATE]

7th October, 2013
Advertisement
Dave Warner's set Australia up with some good batting in the first innings. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)
Expert
7th October, 2013
155
2365 Reads

Does David Warner value playing for Australia? He cannot keep himself out of the headlines.

Cricket NSW may punish the bombastic opener for reportedly failing to turn up to the second day of a Sydney grade game on the weekend.

Despite being told by Cricket NSW he must play on Saturday, Warner decided he would be better off practising in the nets rather than turning out for Randwick Petersham against Northern District.

Randwick Petersham were left to field with just 10 men.

Granted, it is not an unforgivable sin. But it is the third time in five months Warner has attracted attention for the wrong reasons.

He must learn that once a sportsman gains a reputation as a loose cannon every indiscretion, no matter how minor, will be reported upon and held up as a further example of their unreliability.

In Warner’s case, his timing could not have been worse. His standing in Australian cricket was already at its lowest ebb since making his Test debut almost two years ago.

Not long ago he was a lock in all three formats of the game.

Advertisement

Now he is no longer in the ODI side, having been dumped ahead of the upcoming limited overs tour of India.

His position in the Test team is also under threat after a poor tour of England.

Warner was lucky to be recalled to the Australian lineup for the 3rd Ashes Test after being sent away from the tour for slugging English opener Joe Root in a nocturnal encounter at a bar.

Just weeks before that incident, Warner had tarnished his image by using Twitter to hurl childish abuse at two of Australia’s most experienced cricket reporters Malcolm Conn and Robert Craddock.

Warner’s on-field efforts in England were scarcely more impressive, averaging just 23 with the bat in six digs.

Fortuitously for the 26-year-old, Australia’s batting stocks are so weak that, despite all this, he will likely retain his place for the first Test in Brisbane next month.

The fact that he’s scored 897 runs at an average of 50 in home Tests will probably sway the selectors.

Advertisement

Warner should not take his place in the national sides for granted. But from the outside it appears that he does.

Unlike some of his team mates, he has been very well treated by the national selectors.

They have retained their faith in him despite his average of 25 in his past eight Tests.

He was also given a long run at the top of the order in the ODIs even though he has averaged just 29.81 in his 39 matches.

Compare that to the handling of Nathan Lyon, for example.

The off spinner was recently dropped from the Test side after bowling brilliantly to take nine wickets in his previous match against India at Delhi.

He has also been afforded only two ODI caps since debuting in that format 18 months ago despite showing tremendous promise as a limited overs bowler.

Advertisement

Yet Lyon is a consummate team man and thoroughly professional cricketer.

Unlike Warner, he turned up to the second day of his club’s Sydney grade game on the weekend, adhering to the strict orders of Cricket NSW.

It seems that Warner’s marketability, as a thrilling stroke maker capable of lighting up a match in a matter of overs, is of greater value to Cricket Australia.

This piece is not an attempt to slander Warner. I am actually a fan of his and believe he can play an important role in this summer’s Ashes series.

But he needs to pull his head in and recognise the generous opportunities he has been given to represent his country.

Many more dedicated players have not been afforded such chances.

UPDATE: Warner has been given a suspended one-match sentence by Cricket NSW, and must play a minimum of two matches for his Randwick club.

Advertisement
close