Warner’s aggression could have been a force for good

THE apologies from Steve Smith and David Warner gave clues to core problems in Australian cricket leadership. If only Warner’s warrior style had been properly harnessed, writes Miranda Devine.

THE separate press conferences, two days apart, of former cricket captain Steve Smith and his former deputy Dave Warner were testaments to courage and fortitude.

Both men were distraught in their own ways, though Smith, perhaps because he’s younger and more guileless, seemed more authentic.

Smith flipped public perception by enduring the ordeal of that press conference about the ball tampering scandal on Thursday. He acknowledged his responsibility, accepted the consequences and apologised without once trying to deflect blame on others.

This is a rare thing these days.

David Warner celebrating after scoring a century against England during their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne last year. (Pic: Andy Brownbill)

Everyone makes mistakes. It’s how we deal with them that builds character.

Smith set the tone for the rest, from the resignation of coach Darren Lehmann to yesterday’s more stilted apology by Warner.

Tears don’t come easily to Warner because he is a hardscrabble warrior. And perhaps that is a clue to the core problem in Australian cricket, a fundamental injustice in leadership.

Instead of choosing natural-born warriors as their captains, selectors choose nice, pliable guys like Smith. Warner clearly thought he should have been captain, and he’s probably right.

Whenever he’s captained a team they’ve been brilliant.

Leadership is about character, but it’s also about aggression. All that anger Warner stores inside could have been harnessed to good use. Instead it destroyed the team.

Originally published as Warner’s aggression could have been a force for good