‘Wouldn’t be surprised’: Pat Cummins’ telling call on David Warner’s next cricket move

Pat Cummins has weighed in on the next chapter in David Warner’s cricket career after the veteran’s leadership ban was lifted.

Pat Cummins says he “wouldn’t be surprised” if David Warner goes into cricket coaching after the veteran opener’s leadership ban was lifted.

Warner retired from Tests last summer and called time on his international career after the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

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While Australia’s selectors consider who should replace him for the upcoming Test series against India, Warner is now looking towards the next chapter of his cricketing career.

Last week Cricket Australia lifted the lifetime leadership ban that was imposed on Warner following the 2018 sandpaper scandal in South Africa.

Cummins, Greg Chappell and Australian coach Andrew McDonald were among the cricket figures who provided character references for Warner that contributed to an independent panel lifting the ban on the 38-year-old.

The decision paves the way for Warner to captain the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League this summer, although the Thunder have yet to make a call on who their captain will be.

Chris Green is the incumbent Thunder skipper, while Jason Sangha has also led the side, but Warner is firmly in the mix to captain the team this season.

Thunder general manager Trent Copeland said: ““Internally, the chats have already happened in terms of assessing if that will be a good decision. I think that’s a no-brainer.

“Everyone who knows Davey and has watched him over the years has seen him be a great captain and leader, particularly with the bat in hand.”

Pat Cummins says David Warner has great cricket IQ. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

It also opens the door for Warner to pursue becoming a coach of a professional cricket team in Australia or otherwise stay involved in cricket as an administrator.

Cummins welcomed the decision to lift the ban and said Warner’s “cricket IQ” would make him well suited to a move into coaching.

“I think it’s a great result,” Cummins told news.com.au.

“I’ve known Dave since I started playing 15 years ago. I think he’s such an asset in any team. He’s got so much cricket knowledge.

“I know in the past he’s spoken a little bit about pursuing coaching in the future. Hopefully he’s still got a few years left in the game playing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he coaches in some form down the track.

“He’s great. He was a big part of all our teams for Australia over the last decade or so, but particularly since I’ve been captain, he’s been awesome.”

Cummins would make a great coach.

“He’s got great cricket IQ,” he said.

“He’s had a lot of success over in India so I wouldn’t be surprised — if he does want to coach, that he ends up being a head coach of a team.”

Warner’s leadership ban has been lifted. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

There have only been eight head coaches of the Australian cricket team since Bob Simpson started in the role in 1986.

Simpson, Geoff Marsh, Darren Lehmann, Justin Langer and McDonald are former players who went on to coach Australia.

Tim Nielsen, Mickey Arthur and John Buchanan coached the national side without having played for Australia.

Ricky Ponting currently coaches the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and has turned down offers to coach India and England, explaining he wants to prioritise time with his family.

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.

“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.”

Tested by Pat Cummins will be published by HarperCollins on October 30 and is available to pre-order now.

Pat will appear at a Dymocks Literary Dinner in Sydney on November 14. Details and tickets here.