Cricket News: Australian cricket in chaos amidst support to David Warner
The 'will he, won’t he' saga that relates to David Warner’s lifetime captaincy ban being lifted by Cricket Australia (CA) took another early ugly turn when it emerged the batsmen is withdrawing his appeal to get the ban overturned
"My family is more important to me than cricket," posted Warner on Instagram.In a social media statement on his handles that was aptly titled ‘some things are more important than cricket’, he went into great detail on his reasons for doing so – the crux of it revolving around CA’s bizarre idea to put the matter to a public vote.
“They want to conduct a public spectacle to, in the Panel’s words, have a cleansing. I am not prepared for my family to be the washing machine for cricket’s dirty laundry,” read one of the lines in the statement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some things are more important than cricket….. <a href="https://t.co/tSy1J8dvg9">https://t.co/tSy1J8dvg9</a></p>— David Warner (@davidwarner31) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidwarner31/status/1600386163826630658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He added that the other reason he is withdrawing his appeal is to ensure his family doesn’t go through the same trauma they did in the aftermath of the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.
“I am not prepared to subject my family or my teammates to further trauma and disruption by accepting a departure from the way in which my application should be dealt with pursuant to the Code of Conduct. Some things are more important than cricket,” he signed off.
It’s a powerful statement that many felt would split opinions in the dressing room. But it hasn’t.
Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has publicly backed Warner’s stance on behalf of himself and the team and endorsed him as a player and person.
“I haven’t heard the comments (from Warner’s agent) but I have chatted with David and he’s great. We really support David and he’s a huge member of our side,” he told former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist on Fox Sports.
“He’s been fantastic with me throughout my whole career. On this side, he’s been an awesome leader, especially in the last few years.
“He has our absolute support and we really back him and respect his decision.”
Amazingly, the issue is also seeing Warner find support among former members of the dressing room too.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke, who has in the past suggested that Warner’s age disqualifies him as a captaincy candidate, is also puzzled by CA’s manner in dealing with the matter.
“I see it as very inconsistent. I find it hard to believe it’s okay for one (Steve Smith, who is leading Australia in the second West Indies Test in the absence of Cummins) but not okay for the other to have a leadership role," Clarke said.
“If CA decided all of the guys were involved in what went down in South Africa, none of them should be playing a leadership role.”
It’s hard to ignore the point made by Clarke. The Australian cricket administration has scapegoated Warner.
And to make things worse, everyone else seems to support Warner. Buckle up, for this could get much worse for the board before it gets better.