Not so long ago, the Australian public was figuratively marching on David Warner’s home – pitchforks and flaming torches in hand – ready to seize him, tie him to the nearest tree and pummel him to within an inch of his wretched life.
Warner was cast as the prime villain in the sandpaper scandal and the outcry against him was ugly.
There were images in the paper of him dining alone. There was talk of his teammates turning against him.
When Steve Smith bawled at his press conference, many Australian hearts wept with him. When Warner followed his lead, we accused him of shedding a crocodile’s tears.
I daresay that the majority of the Australian cricket public were in favour of Warner never representing them in national colours ever again.
I admit to being among those who felt that way.
Yet now, with his majestic 335 at the Adelaide Oval, Warner is now being celebrated across the land.
From condemnation to commendation; from pariah to messiah.
I struggled with the same wicked conundrum when Steve Smith returned to the crease with such emphatic dominance during the Ashes series. I questioned whether scoring runs – and many of them – warranted redemption. I lay awake at night pondering the nature of forgiveness.
What Warner did in Cape Town was disgraceful and, in my view, the widespread public antipathy towards him was justified. But does scoring a big hundred in Brisbane, and a triple century in Adelaide, square-cut the ledger? Will we see headlines screaming that Warner’s redemption is now complete?
It’s a tough question to answer.
Whilst it makes fleeting intellectual sense, I have begrudgingly accepted, within myself, that I have forgiven Steve Smith. I accept that David Warner deserves the same open mind.
But I do not think that redemption is to be found in the number of runs Smith and Warner have scored since their return to the Test arena.
Rather, their redemption lies in the depth of character they have demonstrated.
Both men accepted the penalty given to them. Remarkably, Warner served his time with greater dignity than his former captain. Warner preferred silence over tame interviews on Fox Cricket or ill-advised Vodaphone advertisements.
But where I admire both Smith and Warner is in the resilience they have shown. That they came back at all – after their self-inflicted humiliation – is to their credit. Lesser men may have found a dark room in which to hide.
And that they both excelled – Warner somewhat belatedly after an abominable Ashes series – demonstrates admiral attributes such as determination, perseverance, hard work and an indomitable will to succeed.
So, to answer my own question: no, I do not believe that runs warrant redemption. But the strength of character required to excel in the face of one’s own foibles certainly does.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
That's a great post, Bayman! You should copy and paste into an article of your own. I'm think I've been convinced that `the new Davey Warner' is partially redeemed by the maturity he has exhibited from the moment his ban went into effect. I hope he can keep it up and not `revert to type'.
Bayman
Roar Rookie
It is fair to say that my feelings towards the convicted 'ball tamperers' in South Africa was a curious mixture of ambivalence and venom. I liked Smith, didn't like Warner, didn't really know Bancroft. Didn't really think it much of a crime, given all the help given to batting in the last decade or two, or more. However, given the Australian team had been front and centre in criticizing every other ball-tamperer on the planet, what happened in South Africa was embarrassing. Caught cold, guilty as hell, premeditated. Awkward! The ICC slapped Smith and Bancroft on the wrist, as they had done with every other offender, but CA decided firm action had to be taken. Only after the CA investigation did we know about the involvement of Warner. In short, CA decided Warner was the culprit, and everybody I've spoken to would back that up, so he got a year (given he was vice-captain of Australia and it was his idea). Smith was 'done' because he was captain, knew (or should have known) what Warner was up to and did nothing to stop him (not to mention telling porkies at the world's most ill-conceived press conference, post play) while Bancroft was the 'patsy', too inexperienced, and too ambitious, to say 'That's a 'No' from me, Davy'. So the penalties were announced and applied. No mention of of CA setting the agenda. No mention of senior CA officials telling the team after South Africa torched them in Hobart a year or two previously, 'We don't pay you to play cricket, we pay you to win...'. Some might find that statement ambiguous, some did not. David Warner among them. A kid from western Sydney, he understood completely, absolutely. Told by Pat Howard to be the on-field aggressor, to get 'in their face', he did as he was asked. Ugly as it was, as personally damning as it was. His reputation secured. When it hit the fan, CA took a massive step backwards. Not us, nothing to do with us, this is all down to team culture. Ooops, sorry Boof, this means you! Now, let's be clear. I don't believe for a minute Lehmann was completely unaware that something strange was a foot. I don't believe the rest of the team didn't know about Warner's 'plan'. But this incident was the natural end-result of CA's desire to be on the up-side of the win/loss ledger. Money was involved, prestige was involved, careers were involved. Warner, surprisingly to most, and definitely to me, came out of the long suspension with the most integrity. Silent, dignified, punishment accepted and while he may have questioned the fairness of the penalty, he made no comment of dissent. On return, Steve Smith's Ashes was a triumph. A basically 'good guy' showing what we have missed in the last twelve months. Meanwhile, Warner's Ashes series was a disaster, leading some to wonder if he had 'lost it'. His subsequent Australian form a silent answer to the critics. Are there still questions about Stuart Broad going around the wicket to him? Probably, yes, but Pakistan have been put to the sword and, argue all you might, 154 and 335*, suggest Warner can play. Bancroft, meantime, is probably where he belongs, out of the team. It's no disgrace. We are talking about Test cricket, after all. The best players. Interestingly, Warner's recent success has put him front and centre in regard to media, and he's been impressive. Played down his achievements, played up his teammates, given credit to bowlers he has incinerated, been jovial, happy, compliant. In short, he's been exactly what CA and everyone else would have hoped for two or three years ago. Maybe he's matured. If so, all credit to him. The new version David Warner a big improvement on the old model. If you're a kid on the fence these days there's a chance you're about to get a free pair of gloves et al. It's actually, good to see. Imagine all those cricket memorabilia gurus squirming when they realize some unknown kid has just scored the helmet David Warner wore when he made 300. For nothing! Of course, the kid who presents it for sale, eventually, probably stole it but that's another story. Warner is clearly on a path to redemption. Whether the target is us, or himself, is the question. The story, so far, is he's done everything right.....and, at the end of the day.....if he's comfortable about where he's at, the rest of us don't really matter.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I agree. It would've cleared the air. That bus trip said it all.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Warner was apologising for his part as if the three roles were equal in contribution. What we needed to hear was "this was my idea and I accept full responsibility". Smith and Bancroft still deserved sanction.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Thanks Rowdy. I'm sure you are. I was reminding myself (and anybody else who may have forgotten the detail). I don't think either Smith or Bancroft were thrown under the bus by anybody. They both abdicated their free will to say `no!'. Boof? Perhaps. That said, I don't think there is any doubt that the CA investigation demonstrated Warner was the primary instigator. As you've pointed out, the penalties demonstrate as much.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I am aware of that statement. He should apologise for throwing Smith, Bancroft and Boof under the bus. ---- Ask yourself these: 1) Why did Bancroft get only 9 months? 2) Why is Smith allowed to captain again? 3) Why is Warner never to hold a leadership position; ever? ----- I'd suggest it's because of degrees of punishment according to their culpability.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Old! Ha! You got that right!
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
I have just reviewed the transcript of what Warner said in his press conference. Here are the first two paragraphs (only): “First of all I’d like to thank you all for coming this morning. To the fans and the lovers of the game who have supported and inspired me on my journey as a cricketer, I want to sincerely apologise for betraying your trust in me. I have let you down badly. I hope in time I can find a way to repay you for all you’ve given me and possibly earn your respect again. “To my teammates and support staff, I apologise for my actions and I take full responsibility for my part in what happened on day three of the Newlands Test. To Cricket Australia, I apologise for my actions and the effect it has had on our game under your care and control. I want you to know that I fully support your review into the culture of the Australian cricket team. To South African players, administration and fans, I apologise unreservedly for my part in this and I am sorry. I brought the game into disrepute on your soil. South Africa is a fine cricketing nation and deserves better from its guests and deserves better from me” The rest is more of the same. Warner apologised, on my count 7 times for `his actions‘ (or words similar to that). But he never explained what his actions were and proceeded to dodge and deflect media questions about exactly what happened. Is apologising profusely and often enough? Or does he have to say EXACTLY what he is apologising for?
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I had watched that one and read lots. I like taking in heaps, lol. He really was having a tuff time back then. Still all the bitterness after WSC going on.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Let me clarify that I'll never forget what Warner (or Smith) did in Cape Town. It was an obscene betrayal. But that doesn't mean I can't respect the character they have demonstrated in not just coming back, but also excelling. I think that takes tremendous character.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
Yeah, sorry Haydos, whilst I appreciate the physical fitness and mental application required to score 380, I don't rate the innings in the same way as the others in the Australian 300 club such as Warner, Bradman, Taylor, Clark, Bradman again, Simpson and Cowper.
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
You're right. Of course, you're right. But the history of soccer would be poorer without Diego (every aspect of him).
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
I think Warner was more than an @rse (as you describe it) before sandpapergate. He apparently hit Joe Root that time before the 2013 Ashes. He behaved like an untamed dog in the stairwell when De Kock baited him. And he was involved in some pretty ugly incidents on the field when confronting opposing players. I genuinely hope his year out of the game has caused him to reflect on what he wants his legacy to be.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Peter, My pleasure. I like to encourage bright old talent... :stoked:
Peter Hunt
Roar Guru
It was very nostalgic. And Greg Chappell gave some good insights into his mental state on the day (although I had heard some of it before in the `Cricket in the 80s' documentary (which you can find on YouTube if you haven't seen it before.
matth
Roar Guru
The attack Hayden faced was: Heath Streak - 216 test wickets at 28 Anthony Blignaut - 53 at 37 Sean Ervine - 9 at 43 Ray Price - 80 at 36 Trevor Gripper - 6 at 85. Apart from Streak and maybe Price at a stretch it wasn’t the most intimidating attack in world cricket :happy:
matth
Roar Guru
Apparently Lara was in Adelaide ready to go if asked.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
In my opinion no. He's still a flog but is a great batsman which are few and far between in the Test and ODI side. If he was a fringe player in the team, yet to establish himself would we quickly forget what he got up to in South Africa?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
To my knowledge he has never come out and apologized for his part as the instigator of the tampering. A simple statement accepting the culpability.
Winston
Guest
I do find this interesting. Please don't see this as being critical of your post, but I want to know in your view what does Warner have to do then by your books?