David Warner - Ashes WTC 2023 Final
Photo Credit: (Getty Images)

Strangely, David Warner has asserted that the 2018 South Africa cheating incident is not the reason for his lifetime leadership suspension from Cricket Australia. 

Warner was portrayed as being the main architect of the infamous “sandpapergate” affair, which saw Cameron Bancroft caught sandpapering the ball during a nasty Test match in Cape Town. It was a bad day for Australian cricket. 

Bancroft was eventually given a nine-month suspension by Cricket Australia (CA), while Warner and the country’s previous captain Steve Smith were both given 12-month suspensions for defaming the game. 

David Warner Interested To Hear From Cricket Australia

Warner, 35, reaffirmed his desire to be restored into a leadership role for Australia when speaking at the summer of cricket launch for Kayo Sports on Tuesday. 

David Warner
David Warner. Credits: Twitter

The explosive opening batsman said that what transpired in Cape Town was not the reason he hasn’t been considered for leadership possibilities with Australia, but rather the conflict between players and CA over a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2017. 

Read More  Shaheen Afridi kicked out! Babar Azam reappointed as Pakistan captain ahead of T20 World Cup: Report

David Warner thinks the South Africa cheating controversy from 2018 wasn’t the reason Cricket Australia gave him lifetime leadership. 

Warner, then-captain Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft, who was accused of being the main motivator behind the notorious “sandpapergate” affair in Cape Town, were eventually given 12-month bans. 

‘Unfortunately a lot of the events before 2018 were with the [CA] board. The MOU stuff and all that,’ Warner said. 

‘Things got over and above, in terms of the Cape Town stuff. There was more to it. 

‘I think that’s where my decision, the penalty that was handed down was more [linked to] stuff happening before that. 

‘I think at the end of the day it’s about what questions do they [the CA board] want to ask me. 

‘That’s where the conversation starts and then we can lead from there. It’s almost a completely new board from when 2018 happened. 

‘I would be interested to see and hear what their thoughts are.’ 

Main Focus Is Just Actually Playing Cricket: David Warner

The ball tampering scandal completely upended the Warner family’s existence, and Candice Warner (right) subsequently said she miscarried because of her husband’s intense monitoring. 

Read More  Watch: 'Virat Kohli's RCB haven't won anything' - Gautam Gambhir's war-declaring video breaks internet
David Warrner Sandpaper gate
David Warner PC- twitter

Smith, on the other hand, filled in for Pat Cummins during the Ashes Test series last summer. 

Warner is anticipated to receive the answers he seeks at a forthcoming meeting with Cricket Australia president Nick Hockley. 

‘At the end of the day, any opportunity to captain would be a privilege,’ he added. 

‘But, from my end, my main focus is just actually playing cricket.’ 

Warner might take over as skipper after Aaron Finch announced his immediate retirement from international one-day cricket on Saturday. 

David Warner Is An Unbelievable Tactical Captain: Aaron Finch

Warner was recommended by Finch as a worthy candidate, citing his tactical acumen. 

David Warner and Aaron Finch
David Warner and Aaron Finch (Image Credit: Twitter)

‘He (Warner) is someone I have played under a few times for Australia when he has had the opportunity to captain,’ Finch told Triple M. 

‘He has been fantastic. He is an unbelievable tactical captain and someone at the time the lads loved playing under. 

‘Would I like to see (his ban) overturned? Yeah, absolutely. 

‘What he can offer not just now as a player but going forward for him to be able to coach and help the next generation of players coming through is so important. 

‘You do your time, and he has well and truly done that.’ 

Read More  Watch: Joe Root, Kane Williamson kicked aside as Steve Smith picks best 'fab-4' batter

Also Read: Virat Kohli Continues To Rule Social Media, Becomes First Cricketer To Reach 50 Million Followers On Twitter