“I’m here to accept my responsibility for my part that I played in day three,” was the well-rehearsed line used by David Warner to answer questions at his press conference.
After the press conference Warner went to Twitter to explain that he was restricted with his responses due to the formal process by Cricket Australia. But to the eye of the Australian public it appeared as an arrogant attitude by a player who has always been an outsider in the game of cricket.
From the beginning the public believed Warner was the instigator in the ball-tampering saga.
Already in the South African Test series Warner had been involved in a bust-up with South African Quinton de Kock and was the centre of ball-tampering allegations in the second Test when the Proteas made complaints about the bandage on his thumb.
Yes, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft are also to blame for sandpaper-gate, but both have the sympathy of the public. Smith is the golden boy of Australian cricket, described by many as Australia’s best batsman since Sir Donald Bradman. He is a traditional player who can bat all day and score tons of run.
Bancroft also has the support of the public because he is the rookie in the squad willing to do anything to attain the respect of the leaders.
Warner, however, has always been opposed to the traditions of the game. He made his international debut in a Twenty20 match against South Africa at the MCG before representing his state in a first-class match, being the first player since 1877 to do so.
Questions have always been raised about Warner’s ability in the long form of the game given his aggressive style of play, but when he was given the opportunity to represent Australia at Test level, he became the most destructive player in the game, scoring 6363 runs and accumulating 21 centuries.
Warner’s most memorable century was the one he scored before lunch on the opening day of play against Pakistan at the SCG in 2017.
The way Warner went about his Test cricket was opposite to anything seen prior. He was not a player who could be relied on to bat all day, but he would not play a defensive shot or scrapper home for a single.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Warner is a traditionalist rebel, which is why fans never fully accepted his style of play.
The win-at-all-costs mentality has drawn criticism from fans. Cricket is a gentleman’s game that should be played in the right spirit. That’s why when it was announced Steve Smith had asked for the wicket microphones to be turned down so the Australian players could sledge the South Africans, fans questioned if they supported this side as much as those who wore the baggie green in the years prior.
An instigator of the sledging culture in Australian cricket was David Warner.
“I’m hearing it (sledging) is part of the game – that’s rubbish, it’s not part of the game,” Ian Chappell told 3AW’s Sportsday.
“He (Warner) decided he’d had enough of that, he didn’t want to do it, he didn’t want to be the attack dog, now for some reason or other he’s back as the attack dog.”
“The more you allow players to talk on the field, the more likelihood there is something personal will be said.”
And that was the case when Quinton de Kock retaliated to the baiting from Warner.
(Independent Media screenshot)
All three players have the opportunity to return to the national team one day. Smith’s on-field ability will guarantee him a spot in the team once his 12-month ban concludes. Bancroft is also likely to once again play for Australia given he is only 25 years old and has shown glimpses of star quality.
But will Warner ever play for country again? According to reports, Warner went ‘rogue’ after the ball-tampering saga and was angry at his teammates, who distanced themselves from the incident.
Warner feels like a scapegoat, and from his lack of responses at his press conference, he appears eager to confess all at the right time, which will surely rock the Australian team.
If Warner does come out with some explosive statements, then there is no chance he could return to the team.
Warner said he is “resigned to the fact” that he may never play for Australia again. But the real question is: do we want Warner to play for Australia again?
Chris
Guest
Warner may want to take the blame to save Lehmann and Smith. It's a case of damage limitation before there's falling out among the thieves! Pathetic that we can accept all these shenanigans as a gullible media devouring public...
michael steel
Guest
Obviously you're a fan of David Warner and from a batting stance I can see why. What I can't understand is that we had series win over England, we beat the South Africans in the first test which was great except David Warner's sledging (seriously) and after one loss we have this situation. Why? I could go on but I don't have to. As for him playing again he's possibly cost Australian Cricket $200-$300 million dollars in TV rights. Won't happen,
Johnno
Guest
Warner future: ODI: No chance may as well retire now from ODI's.. Tests: Almost next to no chnace, KP style a line in the sand will be drawn, he's now over 30 and rarely once withdrawn from a side eg dropped or suspended or injury, do you get back in the side eg the great shane warne a rare example to achieve this but Dave Warner ain't the best spin bowler or even bowler ever.. So odds are stacked against him eg KP and micheal slater didn't come back after being dropped after aged 30 or Geoff Marsh never got back into the test side or dean jones after they were dropped aged 30 and over... So history is stacked against dave warner he will be 33 when the 2019/2020 sheffield shield season starts. T-20: I still reckon he is a 50/50 chance to get back into the T-20 national side, T-20 is his best format. If not, he will be a hired gun like KP, going around the T-20 comps around the globa for the next 5-8 years..
Ian Mansfield
Guest
The pressure on David Warner over the past six months have been enormous. Perhaps there is too much cricket! He played all five tests against the English, backed up for 50 overs series and then was the captain of the winning 20/20 team while other players were rested. Then he had to dash over to South Africa and play with little rest or preparation. The atmosphere in the test series was obviously poisonous with spectators wearing masks which were derogatory to Warner's wife. None of us are saints and when the pressure mounts things can go haywire. When the punishment imposed on the three players is compared to that given to other world players I think there is a strong case for a reduction in the ban. This is a first offence and not a second or third offence. Warner's captaincy of the 20/20 series was brilliant yet he received little credit and it would be a complete shame if we do not see him play again.
Mike from Tari
Guest
The journalists went there expecting Warner to name names, when he didn't they become like hyenas, he answered them by saying he was responsible for his actions. CA did the investigation & found that those 3 players were responsible, so all those journalists looking to shoot down that investigation should target Sutherland not Warner.
George
Guest
Yep - see Smith vouching for Wade's 'chat' behind the stumps as a cricketing solution (following one of Lehmann's bewildered/silent periods coinciding with 5 losses v SL and SA).
tyrone
Guest
So many questions I would like to have heard asked. Q- How many games have you played in where you believe a cricket ball may have been tampered with outside the laws of the game? How many of these occasions if any involved Australia? Were you involved in any of these incidents? I don't think we will hear from Warner again, maybe as a T20 specialist in the Big Bash but that will be about for the next 10 years. I am pretty confident his publisher will have secured a deal fro a tell all book when he and other players involved retire.
Misha Charrett
Guest
He would have said anything in his first press conference. He was completely flustered and made things up on the spot. Just like my teenagers when they are first busted. When they calm down (after some time) I tend to get a different story. Human nature. You and I aren't immune to the "fight or flight" response either
Johnno
Guest
There's alot more to this story. Hard to believe warner and Nathan Lyon are the only two players in the side aged 30 and over, this is one of the youngest squads in modern day memory, warner is the oldest guy in the test side aged 31.. Think back to 2006-7 ashes series, Micheal Clarke was the only guy in the side under 30(at aged 25).. Every other player was aged 30 and over in that series the aussies selected.. For me then Darren Lehmann the old fox and most senior figure in the dressing room, was the head of team culture and general running of the side, and warner and smith were his deputies.. But warner might be fiery but steve smith is no innocent little lamb at aged 28...
Andrew
Guest
Why do you strongly doubt? I still find the idea that the leadership group that Smith mentioned was merely him and Warner, thats a weird of saying it. So erither that are more players involved or Smith is even more self serving and spineless, willing to shift blame to others, that we thought.
Misha Charrett
Guest
I strongly doubt there is much more to come out. But he will be fine as there are many T20 leagues that will be happy to pay for his services
Misha Charrett
Guest
Warner IS the biggest culprit. Nothing will come out later to disprove this assertion. Smith is guilty of being a poor leader, and being influenced by others in the team and team management. He will pay a high price for that. Bancroft was a youngster (by team standards) and made the mistake of being too eager to please. However, all 3 of these players are adults and consciously made those choices. so nobody i remotely innocent. It WAS cheating, so there is a bug price to pay. However, Warner and Bancroft look contrite and I suspect will learn from this and be back. Warner, on the other hand, just looks bemused as to why this is so bad. He is unlikely to ever be back in the green and gold (surely will make his money as a gun for hire in T20 leagues)
Sports Prophet
Roar Pro
I felt the line of questioning by professional journalists was very... ummm... questionable. He must have said a dozen times he was here to accept responsibility for his part in the ball tampering episode. Not one professional journalist in the room then followed that response up with the all too obvious question "So what was your part in the ball tampering episode?" It was as if the journos were happy with their story of Warner as the bad guy and had little intent to learn any more about the incident except to clarify if Darren Lehman or any other team member was involved.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Steve Smith seemed such an upright and decent guy, so people have latched onto this theory that its all Warners fault, and he has lead Steve Smith astray. The facts are though Warner was not the attack dog till recently, because he gave up sledging for a vow of silence. Its clear that its Lehman who led Steve Smith astray, why is it that you have a player who doesn;t sledge talking about sledging and the need for it at press conferences. I think Steve Smith got seduced by Lehman , if it had been Warner working on Steve Smith he would have been in there sledging during Steve Smiths whole reign and there would have been no need to bring in a specialist sledger in Wade. I think Steve Smith is a conformist and needy, and Arthur would have turned him into a pedantic goody two shoes policing the rest of the squad. Instead look what Lehman has turned him into. The reason its clear its Lehman, is the first thing Steve Smith does was clear him. Lehman had the walkie talkie the suspicion was on him and I get the suspicion the cunning Lehman might have also came up with the idea of Warner putting his family intitials on the bandages. So its like a gangsters moll they might be a normal girl a charasmatic gangster and their whole life is changed.
Don Lampard
Guest
If there is more to it perhaps Warner knows that a "tell all" may be his only significant source of income in the near future.