A frustrated David Warner has blasted the process that led to a change in Cricket Australia’s code of conduct, saying old trauma has been reopened by the decision having been drawn out.
Changes to CA’s code were approved by board members on Monday, paving the way for Warner to front a three-person panel and push for his lifetime leadership ban to be lifted.
The move was approved nine months after the players’ union first wrote to CA officials urging Warner’s ban to be reconsidered.
The 36-year-old was dismayed it had taken that long, comparing it to when he was initially slapped with the ban in 2018 in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal.
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“It’s frustrating because we could have done this about nine months ago (in February) when it was first brought up,” Warner said at a Kayo launch on Monday to promote Australian boxer Tim Tszyu’s fight with Jermell Charlo in January.
(Photo by Paul Kane – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“It’s a tad disappointing that when you make a decision in 2018 it’s in four days, and then this takes nine months.
“It actually makes me look like I’m campaigning, which I’m totally not, so from my perspective that’s where it’s been disappointing.
“It’s good to get in a position where it gives me an opportunity to ring up the integrity unit to have a word to them and put forward my case.
“It’s been drawn out and it’s traumatic for me and my family and everyone else who was involved in it; we don’t need to relive what happened.”
Warner believes he has done everything right in the four years since the Cape Town saga to show he had served his time.
“I’m not a criminal,” the powerful left-hander said.
“You should get the right of an appeal at some stage.
“I understand that they put a ban in place, but banning someone for life, I think it’s a bit harsh.
“I’m a leader in the team, no matter what, you (just) don’t need to see a C or a VC next to my name.”
The star opener has signed to play for Sydney Thunder and hopes to put his case to CA before the Big Bash League campaign starts on December 13.
But Warner admits it will be tricky to fit a hearing at CA’s Melbourne headquarters into a busy schedule for the Australian team.
Under previous rules, players and officials were unable to ever have sanctions reviewed, appealed or lifted after initial penalties were handed down.
However, any sanctioned player will now be able to make a case for long-term penalties to be eased if they can prove they have shown remorse and their behaviour has changed.
“(They) must be satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist to justify modifying a sanction,” CA said in a statement.
CA stressed any application would not be a review of the initial ban, but rather of the player’s behaviour since, and his or her justification for lifting sanctions.
“These circumstances and considerations will include whether the subject of the sanction has demonstrated genuine remorse,” the statement read.
Any change in Warner’s circumstances could allow him to enter the frame for Australia’s one-day captaincy in any match missing full-time skipper Pat Cummins.
(Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)
Josh Hazlewood became Australia’s 28th ODI captain on Saturday when Cummins was rested.
The leadership of Australia’s Twenty20 team is also likely to be up for grabs in the next six months, as Aaron Finch weighs his future, and with Warner keen to play at the 2024 World Cup.
Warner’s push to have his ban lifted has the support of several teammates, including current Test and white-ball skippers Cummins and Finch.
Fellow star batter Marnus Labuschagne said he could easily envisage Warner captaining Australia.
“His knowledge on the game, and the way he thinks about the game is very good,” Labuschagne told reporters.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
I support Warners' leadership ban being lifted, but on one condition. This being that he's dropped first...
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Assuming the sandpapering never happened, would Warner actually be considered as a national captain based on his lack of senior level captaincy experience and track record of personal interaction with just about everybody?
Tempo
Roar Rookie
No, the penalties were an arse-covering exercise after the emotional overreaction of the Australian public to the incident. Which was largely due to the problematic and toxic culture of the national team which had grown over the years. The premeditation argument is nonsensical, because almost all ball tampering is premeditated. And it’s irrelevant anyway - whether you thought of it 2 minutes prior or two years prior, the offense is still the same. The coverup, yes I understand that but if the punishment was mainly for that it was still excessive, and it makes no sense that Dave Warner, who wasn’t involved in the botched press conference, would receive the heaviest punishment if that was the main factor.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I dont particularly care if he captains a BBL or other tournament team, but would really rather he wasnt ever in a formal leadership position in the Australian mens team again across any format - even while acknowledging he was a good T20I captain. And maybe others have done worse, and maybe others have copped less punishment for similar incidents... but I still find his conduct really unbecoming of a "leader". I find the logic he is using strange - he says he is a leader regardless of having a C or a VC beside his name, yet thinks the way to give back to the next generation is as a captain of a BBL side? this logic isnt sound.. sounds more like, I want to earn bigger dollars... anyway, as i said, I dont mind for BBL or other league sides.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I wasn't as Chappelli was still there. Being PC is not always the same as being smart.
matth
Roar Guru
Remember how everyone was ready to leave the tired old self indulgent Ch9 ? Good times.
Hutton's ghost
Roar Rookie
It’s actually straightforward. Warner orchestrated a deliberate breach of the Laws of Cricket. Which by definition is cheating. He’s lucky to still have a career, and as others have pointed out, appears not to show any remorse whatsoever. His relentless search for some validation would be touching if it weren’t so cloth-headed.
Hutton's ghost
Roar Rookie
Clear as mud
Guest
Did you sleep through his March press conference where he apologised 6 times and said sorry 3 times in his opening statement, and said he had to go away and work out what was going on inside him that led him to do such a terrible thing. Yeah whatever.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
It’s a societal thing. The offender plays the victim to engender misplaced sympathy. Warner is a nasty little human being who has the ability to play cricket.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That's the major issue with CA. The Disconnect l swear will be the title for the "4 Corners" edition dealing with CA's less than stellar performance. They will show where CA has gone wrong. I think the first port of call should be Ch 7.
nics
Roar Rookie
The sun is quite hot in the West, so that's a plausible theory. Or were you referring to the English tabloid - also a plausible theory.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I don't think they saw these scratches. It was caught in it's infancy
Akitas
Roar Rookie
They were for what was done before and after. The premeditation, collusion, covering-up etc. and the lies !
Akitas
Roar Rookie
I think it is overexposure to the Sun. :happy:
Akitas
Roar Rookie
So now Warner is playing the victim ? What a joke.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Aren't sweets and lozenges blatant off field products? The ball was examined closely by the umpires who found no damage at all. Hence no 5 run penalty. The whole thing became a political stunt when the stupid PM got involved. Warner and Smith pretty much captain anyway. Noticably Moeen Ali appeared to be making the field changes in Englands winning T20 team. So I think its been unfortunate (and unwarranted) but time to move on now without these guys being officially in charge.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
The CA penalties weren't for ball-tampering. They were for what was done before and after. The premeditation, collusion, covering-up etc.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I'm traumatised every time he opens his mouth .
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
For all his talent as a batsman and cricketer Warner is a goon. I doubt he even has a developed concept of remorse let alone an ability to display it. His whole perspective on this issue comes from his own sense of victimhood - I see no sense of contrition for the damage he did to the reputation of the Australian team or Bancroft, just his own entitlement and unfulfilled ambition. I am late to this article but as others have said before me the actual offence was not the worst thing in the world and no doubt CA overreacted but I don't see Warner meeting any of the stated conditions for overturning the initial ruling.