Humbled and overwhelmed, David Warner wants to win respect back from a sceptical Australian public
DISGRACED Australian cricketer David Warner has opened up in his first interview since a disastrous SCG press conference, outlining his plans to win over a sceptical nation still hurting over the ball-tampering saga.
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DISGRACED cricketer David Warner has taken the first tentative steps on the road to redemption, saying he has learned his lesson and wants to help others.
Speaking for the first time since his disastrous press conference at the SCG following the South African ball-tampering scandal, the pugnacious opener said he had been humbled by the support that has kept him afloat at his lowest ebb.
“It is humbling and overwhelming. Sometimes you sit back and reflect and wonder do people care about you as a person,” Warner said.
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“Sometimes with our society something has to happen for the worst for people to come out and show a lot of support and I think I’ve learned a valuable lesson in this myself for the support I have been given to be on the front foot to help others.”
Warner took most of the heat among cricket fans as the architect of the bungled sandpaper plot which resulted in 12-month bans for him and captain Steve Smith and nine months for rookie opener Cameron Bancroft.
He has been lying low but yesterday resurfaced in the Northern Territory where he held a cricket clinic and will undertake a trek to Arnhem Land with Aboriginal people.
Warner said he now understood that he had been living in a bubble and that his exile had been a wake-up call allowing him to concentrated on his role as a father.
“I think the biggest thing for us has been when you are in a routine you can get caught in a bubble — cricket, hotels, packing your bags, coming home,” he said.
“You are not home for long. With an extended period of time you are in a good routine but then it is selfless — kids are a priority — so it’s day care, swimming lessons, gymnastic lessons and then you get your quality time together as parents.
“Candice and I do all those things together. We take them to these things together — pick them up together.
“I always make sure I am able to do it all the time. I am making time now and it is worthwhile.
“I’ve missed that part until now where the kids run up to the gate saying, ‘Mummy and daddy are here’, and I am really enjoying and embracing that.”
Warner will travel to Arnhem Land with Australia’s largest indigenous corporation, the Arnhem Land Progress Association, to promote a Territory- developed driving app, DriveAbout, designed to deliver driver education.
He has been an ambassador for the app since its earliest inception through his long-time friendship with developer Clinton Hoffman.
“I have been a big believer in DriveAbout from the moment Clint told me about it and am taking it to India where the road death statistics are horrific,” he said.
“I feel privileged that in exchange for me teaching cricket I will begin to learn and witness traditional aboriginal culture — and at the same time we will have some fun and make great friends.”
Smith, who returned to Australia yesterday for the first time since his tearful airport press conference following the scandal, also expressed thanks for public support.
For the past few weeks Smith has been hiding out in New York but in his first appearance on social media in a month he said he wouldn’t take his fight to earn back public trust for granted.
“It’s great to be back home in Australia. I have had some time away to come to terms with everything and now it’s time to get back into it,” wrote Smith, pictured with his fiancee Dani. “The amount of emails and letters I have received has been incredible and I have been extremely humbled by the enormous amount of support you have given me.
“I now have a lot to do to earn back your trust. To my Mum, Dad and Dani you have been my rock through this and I can’t thank you enough. Family is the most important thing in the world and I thank you for your love and support.”
New Australia coach Justin Langer said yesterday Smith, Warner and Bancroft could play for the national team again “if they are willing to meet the standards of Australian cricket”.
Originally published as Humbled and overwhelmed, David Warner wants to win respect back from a sceptical Australian public