Cricket Australia close ranks around David Warner as vice-captain walks suspension tightrope
CRICKET Australia has closed ranks around under fire opener David Warner as the Australian vice-captain prepares for two years living on the brink of suspension.
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DAVID Warner must bring back the Reverend or risk cricketing purgatory, as the Australian vice-captain prepares for two years living on the brink of suspension.
One more disciplinary blemish of almost any nature will result in Warner missing either a Test or two limited overs internationals. He is on a final warning and now walking a tightrope but at least can play in the second Test on Friday in Port Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, in an extraordinary development, Quinton de Kock, the man who made disparaging comments about Warner’s wife, announced he would appeal his grade one charge at a hearing late Wednesday night.
Despite his captain Faf du Plessis already stating on the record that South Africa had been guilty of personal abuse, the Proteas are refusing to cop the penalty from match referee Jeff Crowe on the chin.
It’s understood Warner won’t be required at the hearing, as de Kock risks a higher charge in a bizarre bid to plead his innocence.
The Daily Telegraph understands Cricket Australia will not sanction Warner internally and are happy to consider the matter closed after deciding to accept the International Cricket Council’s handing down of a heavy fine and three demerit points.
Asked about whether he was surprised South Africa was contesting, Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine said Australia wouldn’t involve themselves in the process.
“I’m not surprised and not bothered,” he said.
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“It doesn’t affect the way we’re going to go about this Test. Davey has accepted responsibility for his part in what happened in the race the other day and whatever the South African team decide to do is up to them.
“Davey has accepted his punishment and we’re ready for this next Test.”
CA is closing ranks behind their deputy leader and are backing the fact that the abuse levelled about his wife Candice Warner from South African Quinton de Kock was a significant mitigating factor in his explosive reaction on the stairwell in Durban.
An appeal might have happened if de Kock hadn’t been charged as well, or had Warner been facing suspension and not his South African counterpart.
But de Kock has made the extraordinary decision to appeal his grade one penalty and will have a hearing in South Africa.
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Australian teammates desperately want Warner to continue in his aggressive role as on-field attack dog, but losing a player with his match-turning abilities creates an uneasy balance with the heat on the opener like never before.
In early 2015, Warner made a conscious decision to retire his hit-man persona, much to the despair of the Australian team, as he earned the nickname the “Reverend” for his new church mouse attitude.
That personal ban was lifted in the lead-up to the last Ashes, and Warner found his voice once more.
Paine is confident Warner can still be on-field aggressor, but the reality now is that by doing so, he will have to put himself – and his team – in the line of fire.
“No, I don’t think it will change a lot,” said Paine.
“A lot of people like to pretend that they like being in the fight and having verbal stoushes on the cricket field but Davey is genuinely someone who loves that and thrives on it.
“I can’t wait to see him prepare for this game, when he gets the bit between the teeth he is one of the best cricketers in the world.”
Former greats led by Ian Chappell and Adam Gilchrist have implored the Australian team to clean up its image as on-field antagonists after a fiery Test against South Africa also resulted in a fine for Nathan Lyon.
Chappell was particularly scathing of captain Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann for essentially setting up Warner to fail by wanting him to be aggressive and then not keeping the clamps on the demeanour of the team on the field.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland refused to comment on the Warner case until it was closed, but more broadly acknowledged a desire for the Australian team to uphold the spirit of the game.
“We are very clear that the code of behaviour is there for a purpose and we are very keen that our team continues to play in accordance with the code and upholds the spirit of cricket,” Sutherland told News Corp.
“We understand that Test cricket and international cricket is a tough game and we want our teams to play hard but fair.
“But we always want them to play within the spirit of the game and the laws of the game.”
Former captain Chappell told Channel Nine that suspensions should have been handed out, and he wouldn’t be restricting it to just Warner.
Chappell believes captains and coaches have plenty to answer for in the “boorishness” that he believes takes attention away from the game.
“A suspension would be appropriate because you need to stamp it out from the top down,” Chappell told Nine.
“But Warner gets the suspension, and while he’s responsible for his own actions and words, he’s being allowed to do it by people above him. I’d like to see those above him suspended for sanctioning it.
“If you start taking strong action like that then you’ll get some sanity.
“It’s always the same – the players pay the penalty for the stupidity of those above. Warner is being encouraged to be the attack dog.
“The laws of the game state the captain is responsible for the on-field actions of his players, so if Steve Smith is not stepping in he’s just as culpable.”
Coach Darren Lehmann missed Wednesday’s training session with gastro.