Warner starts road to redemption with Randwick Petersham
DISGRACED Australian cricketer David Warner will play for Randwick Petersham next season as he begins his road to redemption.
Southern Courier
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DISGRACED Australian cricket star David Warner will play for Randwick Petersham next season as he begins his road to redemption
The 31-year-old, who was banned from international and state cricket for one year for his part in the ball tampering scandal, will walk out onto a Sydney cricket pitch in September.
It will be the first time he has played competitively since the controversy in South Africa three months ago.
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club president Mike Whitney confirmed the opener will play at least the first three of four matches for the Randy Petes.
He will also be involved in pre-season training and helping with the club’s youngsters.
“We’re delighted to have him,” Whitney said. “He’s one of the best players Australia has had since the World War II.
“He’s been speaking to one of our club officials and he has committed to the first three or four rounds of the season. Why it is only three or four rounds at this stage I don’t know.”
Mr Whitney, who played 12 tests for Australia, emailed Warner shortly after he received his year-long ban in April to tell him the door was open.
“Everyone is excited to have him. He will be great in the changing rooms with younger players,” Whitney said.
Whitney, who grew up in the same suburb, Matraville, as Warner, said the way he had been treated in the weeks after the incident had been brutal.
“Growing up, it’s (Matraville) not the most salubrious place. You had to fight tooth and nail for everything. But I’ve never had any problems with David.”
Warner joined the Randy Petes from neighbouring Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club for the 2013/14 season.
He played just one match and was handed a one-match suspended sentence from Cricket NSW after missing the second day of play.
Due to international commitments he didn’t play for the Randy Petes in the 2014/15 season.
Speaking to the Southern Courier back in April about the ball tampering incident in South Africa, Whitney said: “I can’t believe that they thought they would get away with it. There was so much media there, 30 something TV cameras and millions watching.
“Others have done it before, but I was surprised by the momentum that built. It was the lying and deceitfulness.
“I couldn’t believe that first press conference. It was incredible. Why didn’t Cricket Australia step in instead of throwing the boys out there as soon as play had finished.”
Asked if there was a way back into the national side for Warner, he said: “I hope so. But you’ve only got to stumble and someone will knock you down. It’s the whole tall poppy syndrome.”
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