AUS vs PAK: "I Am Happy With That.."- David Warner On Ball Tampering Scandal

As David Warner gears up to play his last Test for Australia, he has opened up on the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The veteran opener was one of the three Australian players who were involved in the controversy with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft being the other two.

Following the incident, all three players were suspended by Cricket Australia. Steve Smith and David Warner were also forced to step down as captain and vice-captain of the team. David Warner was also banned from the 2018 IPL.

As David Warner gets ready to bring down curtains on his illustrious Test career, he said that the ball-tampering scandal could have been handled differently but he has moved on from it. The Australia great will bid farewell to Test cricket after the upcoming third and final Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match is scheduled to begin on January 3.

“I knew a question like this was going to come up. When I look back at that, it can be handled differently. But I think Nick (Hockley, CA’s chief executive) did his ultimate best to put that forward to the board and the decision was made, and I am happy with that.

“I have moved forward from that. I have got opportunities to lead in the IPL, to lead in the ILT20. I have enjoyed my leadership roles,” said David Warner as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

“But for me, in recent years, I have learned that leadership (is not about) wearing a captain or vice-captain badges. It is about being true to yourself and setting an example both on and off the field.

“For me, I think I’m a leader in this team no matter what. You do not need that C or VC next to your name. I know myself and my energy at times can be annoying, and I can be a pest, but I know that inside that changeroom it gets everyone up and about,” he added.

David Warner’s Test career in numbers:

David Warner has played 111 Tests so far and has scored 8695 runs at an average of 44.58 with the help of 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries. No Australian opener has scored more Test runs than him. Among Australians, only Ricky Ponting has scored more international runs than him.

Meanwhile, the left-handed batsman has also announced his retirement from ODIs. He announced the decision on Monday (January 1.)

Australia squad for the third Test: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner