Cricket news: Candice Warner offered security escort for Test summer after Adelaide Oval abuse

Candice Warner and her children have been offered security escorts for the rest of the cricket summer after she was forced to confront a drunken man as others stood by watching.

Cricket Australia has offered Candice Warner and her family the option of a security escort at matches for the rest of the Test summer, after she was targeted with vile abuse by fans in Adelaide.

Walking two of her three young girls around Adelaide Oval last week to meet their father outside the Australian dressing room, Warner was forced to confront a drunken man, because friends of the man and dozens of patrons nearby failed to intervene despite hearing the verbal attack.

News Corp can reveal Cricket Australia bosses contacted Warner on Monday to provide her with a number she can call at this weekend’s first Test against South Africa in Brisbane if she feels it necessary, and security will come to escort her and her daughters safely around the Gabba.

David and Candice Warner step out with their kids in Adelaide. Picture: Media Mode

When contacted by News Corp, Warner made it clear she was not seeking special protection, and that it was about the safety of all players’ partners and families, and people in general who attend the cricket, that personal or sexist abuse is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

She hopes her decision to confront the man who abused her in Adelaide would serve as an example to her children and others to stand up to bullies.

Following the disgraceful personal abuse she was subjected to on the infamous tour of South Africa back in 2018, the mother of three said it was reassuring to know she and other players’ families had the option of a number they could call should another issue arise.

“I’m OK, it’s just when I’ve got my kids with me, situations like this are not OK,” Warner told News Corp.

“It’s not the first time. This happens quite a bit and with the Test series against South Africa, it’s nice to know that if a situation was to arise like 2018, that I do feel safe and my family feels protected.

“Not just me, but all the players’ families.

“It’s nice CA has offered. They said they don’t want me feeling unsafe. And as I said, the same goes for the other families as well. The priority is that everyone feels safe.

“I don’t want it to get to a point where we can’t go to a game anymore.

“I’m saddened and disappointed that it has got to this and most people are generally very respectful.

“It’s nice to know that if need be, there’s someone there to look after us.”

Candice and her family have been offered a security escort for the rest of the summer. Picture: Ian Bird/CNSW.

Cricket Australia security staff reached out to Warner on Tuesday after she revealed on Triple M’s Summer Breakfast program her distressing experience in Adelaide, and provided her with a number she can call any time at the Gabba and the remaining Test matches this summer at the MCG and SCG.

“We have spoken to Candice and have put a plan in place. Everyone needs to feel safe at the cricket and this type of behaviour is totally unacceptable,” said a CA spokesperson.

Warner said she felt she needed to send a message to her daughters and other fans that bullying and personal abuse is completely unacceptable in any setting.

“When people are at the cricket I get it, they call out to players. But when it’s directed not at players, but at their partners, females, anyone – it’s not OK,” Warner said.

“For me, it’s a lesson for my girls to stand up to bullying.”

On Triple M, Warner said one of the man’s friends later contacted her on social media to apologise for not speaking up – and it was that inaction at the time which prompted her to bravely confront the group of males.

David Warner signs autographs after the second Test victory. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I didn’t have to, but with my girls in my hands, I thought it was really important to confront them because for us, my actions need to mirror the messages I give to my kids,” Warner said on Triple M.

“So I confronted them and like any group of men who have been drinking, they were weak, they were gutless, they didn’t own up to what they did and the man who was actual yelling this abuse was hiding behind his friend.

“I said ‘Do you feel good about yourself, trying to intimidate me, to belittle me, embarrass me in front of my kids? You clearly don’t have kids yourself, it’s not OK. It’s not OK to bully someone, it’s not OK to make fun of other people’,” she said.

“The thing that disappointed me was, one, the fact they thought it was funny, two, that they couldn’t own up to their mistake, but the fact that in a packed stadium, when they could see a mother with two kids clearly in distress, my girls were upset, not one single person came to my assistance. Not one.

“The sad thing is that in a time when we’re trying to encourage more women, more girls to participate in sport, to attend sport, that I’m now starting to feel like it’s not safe for me and my kids to attend sport and support their father.”