Cricket Australia are set to review David Warner’s leadership ban as part of a bid to entice him back to the Big Bash League, according to a report by News Corp.
Warner has been unable to take any leadership role in Australian cricket since 2018, following his key role in the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal in South Africa that saw him suspended for 12 months.
However, the Daily Telegraph report that the CA board will consider rescinding the ban at its next directors meeting in July.
It is believed the desire to see Warner play BBL cricket for the first time since its inaugural 2011-12 season would be a key reason for the backflip, with the competition enduring criticism in recent years for its lack of star power.
As arguably Australia’s finest ever T20 batsman, Warner would be a major coup for a BBL club even after he retires from international cricket, made even more important with the league set to face fierce competition by cashed-up overseas competitions in the same summer time frame.
David Warner plays a shot during the T20 World Cup final. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
BBL chief Alistar Dobson told News Corp that while Warner is clearly a prime target for the competition, no concrete plans have been made.
“I know we’d love to have Dave in the BBL and if there are other things that need to happen to make that possible, that’s for others to resolve,” Dobson said.
“I’m aware of some historical considerations that exist in whether David wants to play in the BBL or not, and it’s not really for me to comment on other than we’d love to have him if he wants to play.
“David has been such a champion of Australian cricket and he’s a player that we’d love to have in the BBL.
“We know he’s got great history with the Sydney Thunder and we’d love all the Australian players to be playing in the BBL if they’re available. If there’s a way that David could find his way onto a BBL list I think it would be huge.”
The upcoming BBL competition is set to be without a number of Australian stars including bowling trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, as their schedules are managed following a hectic six months which includes a home T20 World Cup and Tests against the West Indies and South Africa.
With a mid-summer ODI series against the Proteas widely expected to be cancelled, Warner could be free to play in the BBL for the first time in a decade.
In his only prior matches, for the Sydney Thunder, he has scored 152 runs at an impressive average of 76, including hitting the competition’s first-ever century, against the Melbourne Stars.
Since then, the success of his international career has left him unable to feature in the competition ever since.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
suprise surprise warner didn't make runs against Sri lanka
Pierro
Roar Rookie
the political double standards are most consistent anything for bbl Jeff. warner will be lucky to make it two more summers in test cricket .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Good to see they'll do anything for bbl . can't have that long left in test cricket . Load of BS the bans were too long and severe especially on smith . warner came up with the idiotic idea and lead the debarcle . will be intersting to see if he can make runs against Sri Lanka .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
“I’m aware of some historical considerations that exist in whether David wants to play in the BBL or not, and it’s not really for me to comment on other than.." "I'm aware of some historical considerations"...FFS, why can't people just talk openly, honestly and directly. Just say the issues out loud and move on. This double speak/non-speak is so infuriating.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Horribly out of form, possibly on a terminal decline, but he's been a very good player and a very good captain.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
“Mistakes”??.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So SA is literally a walk in the park if all you've got is Black Mambas :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Hope you went to The Sharks Den in Port Shepstone .. Just say you know Uncle Dave ..and one difference, you have no Black Mamba snakes in WA . :laughing:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Im not Australian but seriously.. imo it’s just gone beyond punishment . It has even been political. I mean WTF has your prime minister got to do with it , but he waded in pretty quickly . FFS a couple of cricketers made a bad call . Boo hoo . I have a question... How much longer must the existing ban on the likes of Warner , Smith remain in place ? It’s not that they will not be elected in leadership roles it’s that they can’t be . It’s infantile .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
When I first arrived in south coastal SA, I was astounded by how similar the geology and vegetation was to SW Western Australia + the weather/climate. So I guess no surprise the size of the expat community here, aided by proximity/direct flights.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
I reackon make Warner Captain and Hansie Cronje and Lou Vincent the coaches, it would make the walk on and off the cricket pitch interesting when playing outside Australia. :silly:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Good observation. Despite Warner’s bump and grind with Quinton de Kock in a stairwell I’ve noticed the respect our South African players afford him . Strange but true .. Everyone is entitled to make a mistake , everyone is entitled to screw up . Imo Warner is the single most valuable player in Aus right now ( all formats). Yes above Cummins , Starc , Smith , Labuschagne etc . Why ? Easy … he believes passionately in winning . Wears his Aussie heart on his sleeve . .. it’s important to him . SA tours Aus in December. Neutralize Warner , half the battle won . Don’t , you are in trouble . An aside , after sandpapergate the only Aus player to publically apologize to his hosts .
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yeah . There was a Saffer movie called “ Packing for Perth” I’ve never considered it tho .Dig my spot ..firstly let us sort England . Bring em back to earth . :cricket:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Good to hear. We are in late June in Perth and Sunday is forecast to be sunny and 23C. My lived experience has been a 23C day in late August/early Sep signals the start of summer - albeit a brief taste. Nuts that we now have a 23C day in late June! Climate change has its plusses and minuses! -- I'm bummed Perth gets the Windies Test and not a Saffers Test. There are as many Saffers (and Zimbabweans) living in Perth as there are in Sydney, but on a per-capita basis, South Africans are a much bigger component of the community (including work professionals) in Perth than anywhere else in Australia. A strange decision re CA scheduling and personally very annoying - would have loved to be able to watch this exciting SA Test side "live". In any event, it is going to be a great series! Can't wait.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Hi Jeff . A kinda warm day today in Jozi .. but yeah winters can bite here . Can recall a friend of mine who came over from England midwinter. Got off the plane and said it’s the coldest she had ever been in her life :happy: . Truth is we are so not geared for cold weather ... Mostly tho Johannesburg has an unbelievable climate .. we are pretty lucky on that score .
U
Roar Rookie
Finch should’ve never been a captain of anything. Useless
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Only problem with that is only half are from NSW. CA is right in looking for leaders from NSW. And certainly not the likes or Ban-croft, for obvious reasons.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
How are the winter months treating you JN? I’m guessing inland and at altitude it must get a bit cool in Jo’burg this time of year?
Simoc
Guest
It was a political decision to ban him from a feeble CA of the time under weak leadership. Warner wasn't captain so it was the failure of the captain not Warner. Dunno why any of the best will play BBL given its hopeless TV coverage on 7 and lots more dollars without the criticism in the other comps on at the same time. The BBL needs to be condensed to 4 weeks so players do the whole series rather than come and go.
Nick
Roar Guru
There is a ready made captain in T20's: Mitch Marsh There is a ready made captain in ODIs: Pat Cummins. Problems solved.