By Tom Decent
There was a period two years ago when David Warner had conceded that, despite his best efforts, he would never be allowed to captain a professional cricket team after his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering saga in South Africa.
Attempts by Warner to have his lifetime leadership ban revoked in 2022 were ultimately abandoned due to a prolonged nine-month process that would then have to play out in public and was likely to distract the Test opener from the job of making runs during the middle of an important summer.
On Wednesday morning, just days after Cricket Australia overturned Warner’s leadership ban following a verdict from an independent panel, the 38-year-old was wheeled out as the Sydney Thunder’s new captain ahead of next month’s Big Bash season.
Warner is excited and grateful, for he feels this was the final piece of the puzzle required to put to bed the drama that unfolded in Cape Town, where he was found to be involved in Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper on the ball.
“I think two years ago, that was probably me done,” Warner told reporters at Cricket NSW headquarters at Sydney Olympic Park. “I thought I probably wouldn’t revisit that [leadership ban]. I didn’t even know if I was going to come back and play Big Bash. I think deep down [after] 2018, I learned a lot of things from then.
“I’ve done this [captaining] about 10 or 11 years ago for the Thunder. It’s about going out there and just leading by example, trying to educate the youngsters as much as I can.”
Former Test cricketer David Warner has been made captain of the Sydney Thunder.Credit: Nick Moir
The board of Cricket NSW ratified Warner’s appointment, which will result in him replacing Chris Green ahead of the tournament, starting on December 15.
Importantly, Warner is available for the entire Big Bash season – he featured in two matches in 2023-24 – given he no longer has international commitments. He will be heavily involved in driving the team’s strategy and culture, as well as having a big say in the team’s batting order, working alongside coach Trevor Bayliss.
There is a chance Warner might even drop down to No.3 or in the batting order, he says, due to the depth of a side that features Nic Maddinson, Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Billings.
Warner and Steve Smith served one-year bans after Australia tampered with the ball in a Test against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018.
An independent three-person panel agreed last month that Warner had shown “extreme remorse” and was “sincere” and “genuine” in acknowledging responsibility for what happened in South Africa.
Warner understands why the ban was handed down, but it did not sit well with him as the years went on.
“You don’t wanna look back and go for a job interview and have ‘banned for life from a leadership perspective’ on your CV,” Warner said.
“The punishment that was handed down was there for a reason and I thoroughly accept that. You’re always going to be disappointed that you can’t lead. But what was done was done, and I’ve moved on from that.
“I went back to club cricket and I thoroughly enjoyed that. The thing that stood out for me was the volunteers. We’re putting on covers, people are doing the canteen, they’re running drinks out to us. That stuff’s normal for us when we’re playing for Australia, but when you go back and see the people giving up their own time and dedication on Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings … it excites me for that love of the game again.”
Warner retired from international cricket earlier this year, but said last month he would be willing to play for Australia again this summer if selectors needed him. Test skipper Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald have said that won’t be happening.
Meanwhile, Warner has expressed forthright opinions on what Australia should do ahead of the India Test series. In commentary for Fox on Monday, Warner said he thought Bancroft had major flaws in his technique in red ball cricket and shouldn’t be opening against India.
Could things get a bit awkward when the pair link up for the Thunder in a few weeks?
“If there is something that I do comment on [regarding] any of the guys that are in my team, about the red ball stuff, we can have those conversations. We’re adults,” Warner said.
“If he wants to have a conversation with me, he’s more than welcome to. I stand by my comments.”
The Thunder play their first match against the Adelaide Strikers in Canberra on December 17.
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