David Warner to face Steve Smith in historic match at Coogee Oval

TWO of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers will face off in one of the biggest grade matches of all time on November 10. The gaze of the cricketing world will fall on Coogee Oval for the day as David Warner, playing for Randwick Petersham, and Steve Smith, for Sutherland, do battle.

Steve Smith and David Warner pictured in October 2015. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

• Randy Petes offer olive branch to Warner
• Warner WILL play for Randwick Petersham

TWO of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers will face off in one of the biggest grade matches of all time on November 10.

The gaze of the cricketing world will fall on Coogee Oval for the day as David Warner, playing for Randwick Petersham, and Steve Smith, for Sutherland, do battle.

The Randy Petes are already in talks with Cricket NSW about how to facilitate the occasion in which both cricketers are seeking redemption following the sandpaper scandal which rocked the sport.

Steve Smith and David Warner were banned by Cricket Australia for a year for their parts in the sand paper incident in South Africa. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“It will be a mega day for our club,” Randy Petes president and former test bowler Mike Whitney said. “We’re in talks about how we organise this. Do we need extra security, do we need to lock the gates, how much media do we let in? We certainly need to get more beers and hot dogs.”

As if the prospect of seeing Warner and Smith wasn’t enough, big hitting Shane Watson is also expected to line up for Sutherland.

“Can you imagine if we bat first and David gets 120 and we get 320 and then Steve parries that with a 100 and Watto gets 60,” Whitney said. “It’s going to be fantastic for the club and grade cricket.”

Mike Whitney, pictured in 1989, enjoyed a successful international career himself. He is now the president of Randwick Petersham

Whitney was one of the first to offer an olive branch to Warner following the toxic fallout of the ball tampering incident.

“We’re both from Matraville and I’ve known David for a long time,” he said. “It’s a tough place to grow up, you have to scrap for everything. You knock him down and he’ll get back

up and say ‘is that all you’ve got’.

“It’s one of his strengths but can also be a weakness.”

Warner, who has been playing in the Caribbean Premier League, is expected to join his Randy Petes teammates in the coming weeks. He has committed to playing at least five games for the club.

“They are both well within their rights to say ‘stick it, we’re not going to play for you or Australia we’re going to do a Chris Gayle and go and play around the world earning millions of dollars’.

“For them to take this road says a number of things. Firstly they really care about their club at this level and about NSW cricket. We are happy to help both of them here at this club.”

David Warner, pictured playing for St Lucia Stars, has been playing in T20 tournaments around the world since his ban was imposed. Photo by Ashley Allen — CPL T20/Getty Images

The Randy Petes kick off their season at home on September 22 against St George.

This is followed by a two day match, also at home, against UNSW on September 29 and October 6.

They then face North Sydney away on October 13 and 20 before another away fixture against Western Suburbs on October 27 and November 3.

Smith and Watson then visit Coogee Oval on November 10.

Don’t miss next week’s paper for a preview of the season and more from Mike Whitney. The following week we will release the first in our podcast series featuring Mike Whitney talking about his career.

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