David Warner opens up on toll Sandpaper scandal has taken on his life

Going into his final fortnight as an Australian cricketer, David Warner has opened up on the impact the ball tampering scandal has had on his life, and his acceptance that he will never escape it.

David Warner has opened up on the toll the ball tampering scandal has taken on his life and accepts he will never be able to escape it.

The nation’s greatest ever all-format player will retire from international cricket after this Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, and is hoping to do so with a full set of ICC championship titles in Australia’s trophy cabinet.

Warner says he will finish his time as an Australian cricketer on good terms, but admits he is sick of being the sole lightning rod for criticism in the team while certain people in the game have been “protected differently.”

“For me it’s about moving forward. My back was always up against the wall when I came back and I knew that. I copped my fair share over my career,” Warner said from Antigua ahead of Australia’s first Super Eights match against Bangladesh later this week.

“Coming back since (his 12 month ban) I’ve probably been the only one that’s ever copped a lot of flak, from whether it’s people who don’t like the Australian cricket team or don’t like me.

“I’ve always been that person who has copped it.

“OK, it’s fine if they want to do that, but I always feel like I’ve taken a lot of pressure off a lot of guys as well and I think understandably, I’ve been that person to be able to absorb that.

“But one can only absorb (so much).

“For me it’s great to go out knowing I’m not going to cop it anymore.

“ … I learnt a lot in that time when I came back as well. Certain things and certain people are protected differently as well.

“I felt I had great support from, especially our coaching group now and selectors have been great.

“All in all I’ve had a privileged career, since 2018 I’ve really enjoyed that time coming back and just being around the guys and training hard and working as hard as I can.”

Picture: Getty Images

There has never been a scandal in Australian sport which has become as vitriolic as Sandpapergate.

The fact that ball tampering is actually a relatively minor offence under the ICC’s Code of Conduct which only suspended captain Steve Smith for one match, and Warner and Cameron Bancroft not at all – contrasted with the life-altering 12 month suspensions and leadership bans given to Warner and Smith by Cricket Australia was extraordinary.

Warner references NFL superstar Tom Brady’s 2014 ‘Deflategate’ scandal in the US – where the former New England Patriots quarterback was found guilty of having air taken out of footballs before a finals’ match so they were easier to throw and grip – as a way of highlighting the uniqueness of the burden he has had to carry from Sandpapergate.

Brady copped a four-game suspension and it never impacted on his legacy as one of the NFL’s all-time greats. Warner knows his penalty is never-ending.

“The Tom Brady thing with Deflategate, it sort of blew over. But (with Sandpapergate) with the Australian Prime Minister (Malcolm Turnbull) and his cabinet deflecting upon cricket – there was a lot going on in the politics world (in terms of pressure),” Warner said.

“The focus shifted towards the Australian cricket team. It was difficult. That was difficult.

“I’ve just knuckled down and done as well as I can and I’ve copped my fair share of all that.”

A recent expert poll voted on by News Corp’s chief cricket experts and editors selected Warner as Australia’s greatest ever men’s white ball – ODI and T20 – cricketer of all time.

Deflategate seems a mere footnote on Tom Brady’s legacy. Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

With his record of three World Cup titles, more than 100 matches across both formats, 23 centuries and series of signature moments in his World Cup career – he was voted No.1 ahead of legends like Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Yet on an accompanying readers’ vote, Warner was panned to the point of absurdity given he is undisputedly a top 10 great, even if you wished to mark him harshly.

Asked whether he feels underappreciated and underrated given the scale of his achievements, Warner said he hopes true cricket supporters understand the scale of what he has done.

“Yeah look, I think it’s going to be inevitable that when people talk about me in 20 or 30 years’ time, there will always be that. There will always be that Sandpaper scandal,” Warner said.

“But for me, if they’re real cricket tragics and they love cricket, and my closest supporters, they will always see me as that cricketer. Someone who tried to change the game. Someone who tried to follow in the footsteps of the openers before me and tried to score runs at a great tempo and change Test cricket in a way. Be that person who went from Twenty20 cricket to play Test cricket – batting at No.6 and then opening.

“For me, hopefully I can be remembered for that, but I understand 2018, it always comes up and it’s unfortunate – but it is what it is.”

David Warner knows Sandpapergate will always be a part of his cricket legacy. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Warner hopes there is a fairytale farewell title awaiting him in less than a fortnight’s time in the West Indies, and paid tribute to his family and their unwavering support.

“From 2018 it opened up my eyes to the people who are involved in cricket from the lower level. The volunteers. How much family actually means to you,” Warner said.

“I’ve been super impressed with where I’ve come from. My family, my wife (Candice Warner) and daughters, my mum and dad, and Candice’s parents, they’ve helped me get to where I am now from 2018 specifically. We’ve all ridden the highs and lows together.

“I think it would be special, most definitely (to finish with the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup and World Test Championship all in Australia’s keeping).

“It’s something as a team you strive for as much success as you can and to do that would be a great accomplishment, not just for me, it’s about the way the systems we’ve had in place, the way the coaches and selectors have structured the whole thing.

“It’s been a process of 18-24 months and they’ve done a fantastic job to No.1 keep the guys on the park, but No.2 keep that core group together and I think it will be a fantastic fit for all of us.”

Originally published as David Warner opens up on toll Sandpaper scandal has taken on his life