‘Shameful’: David Warner accused of bad sportsmanship at World Cup

This is the image that has sparked accusations from angry fans about David Warner being a bad sport during a World Cup semi-final.

David Warner smacked this delivery for six. Photo: Kayo Sports

Australian batter David Warner has been accused of poor sportsmanship following what a former Indian cricketer described as a “pathetic” act during Friday’s T20 World Cup semi-final win over Pakistan.

Early in the eighth over of Australia’s miraculous run chase at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan spinner Mohammad Hafeez delivered a rank half-tracker that bounced twice before reaching Warner at the striker’s end.

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The Australian opener skipped down the track and blasted the ball over the mid-wicket boundary for six. To rub salt into the wound, the delivery was called a no-ball for bouncing twice, meaning the next ball would be a free hit.

“That’s incredible strength,” commentator Mark Nicholas cried. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.”

Because umpire Richard Kettleborough considered Hafeez’s delivery not to be a dead ball, Warner was entirely within his rights to smack it wherever he pleased.

Law 21.7 states: “The umpire shall call and signal no ball if a ball which they consider to have been delivered, without having previously touched bat or person of the striker, bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease.”

However, some cricket fans accused the 35-year-old of poor sportsmanship, arguing he should not have attacked a delivery that slipped out of Hafeez’s hand.

Speaking on the Star Sports post-game TV coverage, former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir suggested Warner’s actions were against the spirit of the game.

“Shane Warne comments and tweets on everything. Even Ricky Ponting makes big, big claims about the spirit of the game. What have they got to say about this?” Gambhir said.

Gambhir later tweeted: “What an absolutely pathetic display of spirit of the game by Warner! #Shameful.”

But many cricket pundits also jumped to Warner’s defence. Fox Sports presenter Adam Peacock posted: “On what planet did that ball not deserve to be hit to the moon?”

Former Australian bowler John Hastings told RSN Breakfast Club: “What are you doing bowling a double bouncer in a semi-final anyway?”

Shame on you @davidwarner31
Where is your sports sprit?

— Rahul Anand (@RahulAnandNBT) November 11, 2021

That was a very funny ball from Hafeez but a terrific effort from David Warner to hit that for Six.

Look how far wide he went down the leg side to hit that into the stands for a Six! Surely wasn't easy to maintain balance as well when the ball bounced for the 2nd time.#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/HWT9X6CFy1

— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) November 11, 2021

That was pathetic by David Warner.

He was well within his rights to do it but it is same as mankad.#PAKvAUS#T20WorldCup

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) November 11, 2021

Warner was eventually dismissed by Shadab Khan for 49, albeit in controversial circumstances.

The left-hander was given out caught behind and walked off the ground, but replays clearly showed there was daylight between the ball and his bat. Meanwhile, Ultra Edge — the technology used to determine if a batter has edged a delivery — didn’t register a noise either.

If he was confident he didn’t hit it, Warner could have reviewed the decision. The third umpire would have seen the gap between bat and ball, looked at the flat line on Ultra Edge and given Warner a reprieve.

But there was no challenge of the on-field umpire’s decision and the Aussie’s knock came to a bizarre end, leaving his team with plenty to do at 4/89 in the 11th over.

However, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade combined for a thrilling 81-run partnership to guide Australia towards a five-wicket victory over Pakistan.

Aaron Finch’s men will face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup Final on Monday morning AEDT at 1am.

With James Matthey

Originally published as ‘Shameful’: David Warner accused of bad sportsmanship at World Cup