David Warner puts family before cricket in brutal takedown of captaincy ban process

David Warner’s application to be released from his leadership ban was backed by some of the most senior Australian and international cricket figures.

An angry David Warner has given up on attempts to overturn his leadership ban amid what appears to be a chaotic and dysfunctional process instated by Cricket Australia.

Warner alleges that counsel assisting the independent panel assembled for the hearing had made “offensive” comments in the process.

The batsman says he does not want to put his family through another public humiliation and was conscious of the effect it would have on the team.

Warner’s wife Candice was caught up in the events of 2018 and publicly humiliated before and after the sandpaper affair.

The couple have three young children.

The former vice-captain reveals the panel was demanding he be subject to a public cross examination and it is believed that one member of the process has already walked away from the review.

Australian cricket traditionally hears its conduct matters privately.

Cricket Australia changed its code in November, creating an three person independent panel of commissioners which would hear an application from Warner that would test whether his behaviour had improved and whether his remorse was genuine.

Warner’s decision to walk away comes at it was revealed his application to be released from his lifetime leadership ban was backed by letters of support from the some of the most senior Australian and international cricket figures, including captain Pat Cummins and former captain Greg Chappell.

One of the reasons the process was derailed was the suggestion players and coaches could be cross-examined in a public hearing in the middle of this Test summer.

Coach Andrew McDonald, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who played with the batsman in the IPL, and former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar were among those whose endorsements were provided for the commission.

David Warner has walked away from the process to have his leadership ban lifted. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Warner was given the lifetime leadership ban for his role in the sandpaper scandal.

He released a long statement on his social media accounts on Tuesday night withdrawing from the process.

The issue surrounds the panel’s decision last Tuesday to conduct the hearings in public – something which Warner says Cricket Australia was also opposed to.

“Despite my opposition and that of Cricket Australia, on Tuesday last week Counsel Assisting the Review Panel and the Review Panel took it upon themselves to concoct an irregular procedure (overturning presumptions and previous practice) for the determination of my application and establish a novel approach that would negatively impact the health and welfare of my family and the interests of the Australian cricket team,” he said.

“In his submissions, Counsel Assisting made offensive and unhelpful comments about me that had absolutely no substantive purpose under the Code of Conduct.

“Regrettably, the Review Panel acted contrary to the submissions of Cricket Australia and my lawyer and appeared to adopt virtually entirely the position of Counsel Assisting.

“In effect, Counsel Assisting, and, it appears, to some extent the Review Panel, want to conduct a public trial of me and what occurred during the Third Test at Newlands. 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.

“My family is more important to me than cricket.”

David Warner says he did not want to subject his family to a ‘media circus’. Picture: Mark Brake-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Warner spelled out the impact on his family since the ban.

“Over the course of the past nearly five years since the events that occurred during the Third Test in Cape Town, even with all the humiliation and attacks that they have had to endure, I have enjoyed the unwavering support and love of my wife Candice and my three daughters, Ivy Mae, Indi Rae, and Isla Rose,” he wrote.

“They are my world.

“Since that Test and even though my ban from leadership roles may never be lifted, I have taken it upon myself to reform, to rehabilitate and to transform my approach to the game.

“I have served and been subject to a crushing, unprecedented, penalty that has horribly impacted me and my family for the past nearly five years – without the prospect of any relief until now.”

The Code of Conduct was reviewed on November 21 to permit players to modify long-term sanctions

David and Candice Warner pictured with their children Ivy, Isla and Indy

“With the announcement of the amendment to the Code of Conduct, I held the hope and was encouraged, that I would be given a proper opportunity to demonstrate to the Review Panel that I have demonstrated my deep regret and remorse; and that my rehabilitation and

transformation are profound,” Warner said.

“With the encouragement of administrators and colleagues and in accordance with the rules under the Code of Conduct, on 25 November 2022 I submitted an application to Cricket Australia for a modification to my lifetime ban from leadership positions in cricket. I did so in good faith on the understanding that regular established procedures under the Code of Conduct would be followed.

“I hoped I would be given the opportunity, under the established practice and procedure of the Code of Conduct that is reflected in the amendments, to demonstrate that I have satisfied the necessary requirements for a modification to my ban and that I might be permitted to see out the balance of my career without the yoke hanging around my neck and further anguish for my family.”

Warner alleges that the counsel advising the panel had their role terminated, but says it is not enough.

“Counsel Assisting the Review Panel appeared to be determined to revisit the events of March 2018 and the Review Panel appears determined to expose me and my family to further humiliation and harm by conducting a media circus,” he said.

“I note that the engagement of Counsel Assisting was terminated. Nonetheless, following the curiously irregular position adopted by the Review Panel, and in the interests of my family and Australian cricket, last Thursday I submitted a request for the Review Panel to revisit their procedural decision and at least apply a protocol that is consistent with established practice and procedure under the Code of Conduct. That request had the support of Cricket Australia.

David Warner's public statement on his Instagram page

“Having had nearly a week to consider that proposal, today the Review Panel has decided to ignore the request in any meaningful way and has provided a dismissive rejection of the substantive matters. It appears that the Panel has given no more than passing consideration to issues of player welfare and the interests of Australian cricket and is instead determined to conduct a public lynching.

“Regrettably, I have no practical alternative at this point in time but to withdraw my application.

“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.”

Cricket Australia responded late on Wednesday.

“We are disappointed with this outcome as our intention was to give David the opportunity to demonstrate why his lifetime leadership ban should be varied at an independent hearing and we amended our Code of Conduct accordingly,” a CA spokesperson said.

“We supported David’s wish for these discussions to be heard behind closed doors and respect his decision to withdraw his application.

“David is a very senior and highly regarded member of the Australian team who has been a great ambassador for the game as a whole since his return from a year-long ban.”