Pat Cummins, Greg Chappell among character references to lift David Warner’s leadership ban

Revelations from David Warner’s hearing to have his leadership ban overturned include significant admissions from the retired batting star and the friends who helped him win a reprieve.

Character references from leading cricket figures including Australian Test captain Pat Cummins as well as admissions and contrition from the retired batting star who “100 per cent regretted” his involvement helped convince Cricket Australia’s Conduct Commission to unanimously overturn his lifetime leadership ban for involvement in the 2018 sandpaper scandal.

Warner, who was also banned from cricket for a full year in the wake of the incident in Cape Town, applied to CA to have the ban lifted and an independent three-person heard evidence from other leading cricket figures including Australian legend Greg Chappell and former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson before resolving to end the ban immediately.

In his own significant oral evidence at a hearing held on October 17, Warner, who retired from international cricket following this year’s T20 World Cup, acknowledged that he had “let every single person down” and said that he “100 per cent regretted the actions that were taken and am extremely remorseful”.

He also revealed the impact the ban had on his family but was adamant he had, since then, “acted in a way that has positively impacted and reflected upon Australian cricket”.

“After the events in 2018 I just started thinking about myself and how I just wanted to be, you know, perceived better on the field, not just, you know, I want to be playing hard, but I want to be that person that they want to have a beer with after the game,” he said.

David Warner and Pat Cummins with teammates in Hobart.

“I’ve not held a leadership position in Australian cricket for over 6½ years. Despite my leadership ban, I’ve made a conscious effort to be a leader within a team so I participated in, especially regarding respect for the game, respect of umpires and match officials and respect of opposition players.

“I believe that I have acted in a way that has positively impacted and reflected upon Australian cricket.”

Cummins was effusive in his praise for Warner who had “acknowledged his responsibility to the game” in the wake of the scandal.

“Since 2018, he has acknowledged his responsibility to the game and future generations and stepped up his engagement with communities who play cricket,” he told the panel.

Pat Cummins with David Warner at the MCG in 2023 (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“David was instrumental in supporting the Australian Cricket Team undertaking the most recent tours to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. During these tours his upholding of the spirit of cricket and his respect for the opposition as did his understanding of the importance of those tours for the game.

“These higher considerations transcended the matches we played in and were felt by the cricket-loving public in those nations.”

Australian coach Andrew McDonald was also among those to supply positive character references with Chappell, one of Australia’s greatest-ever captains, declaring Warner had “earned the respect of teammates and most supporters” as he rebuilt himself in the years since his role in the incident was revealed.

“David was obviously remorseful and has worked assiduously towards redeeming himself in the eyes of the general public and has excelled in leadership roles elsewhere since the incident,” he said.

Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing sandpaper on the ball during a Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town in 2018.

“He has shown his dedication to Australian cricket with his commitment since then and has earned the respect of his teammates and most supporters.”

Warner appeared before Alan Sullivan, Jeff Gleeson and Jane Seawright earlier this month, and in its full finals the independent panel were satisfied that his “conduct and behaviour since the imposition of the sanction reflects very well upon him”.

He also completed not just 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket, which was included in his original sanction, but also “at his own volition, helped indigenous cricketers in remote areas including islands off the coast of Australia”.

Considering all the evidence, and Warner’s growth, as revealed by the array of character witnesses, the review panel was confident that “the sanction imposed for the past 6½ years has fulfilled its purpose and has been sufficient, without more, to protect the legitimate interests of Cricket Australia and the cricketing community generally”.

Originally published as Pat Cummins, Greg Chappell among character references to lift David Warner’s leadership ban