Toyota is latest sponsor to dismiss David Warner

The wheels are continuing to fall off the $6m-a-year David Warner money-making express.

David Warner celebrates his century in the 2017 Boxing Day Test. Picture: Mark Stewart

The wheels are continuing to fall off the $6 million-a-year David Warner money-making express, with Toyota the latest inter­national corporate giant to reveal it is withdrawing a personal sponsorship.

The Japanese carmaker told The Australian last night that Warner was no longer one of the brand’s key ambassadors.

“Based on David’s suspension and in light of recent events, we can confirm that we have ended our partnership with David Warner,” a Toyota spokeswoman said.

However, Toyota added: “Out of respect for David and his family, we will continue to work to support his welfare during this time privately.”

Toyota’s comments came as Warner confirmed yesterday he would not appeal against Cricket Australia’s one-year suspension, saying he would “do everything I can to be a better person”.

Toyota’s decision cements Warner as by far the biggest financial victim of the three players suspended for the South African ball-tampering affair, the others being ex-captain Steve Smith and opener Cameron Bancroft.

Warner had been seen as the most marketable cricketer for sponsors because of his explosive batting style.

Warner has now lost partnerships with three corporate giants in a week: electronics group LG, clothing and footwear maker ASICS, and Toyota. A few months ago, he also lost another multinational, Nestle, as a personal sponsor through its Milo brand.

The Australian has established that before the scandal, Warner would have likely made $6m this year, making him easily Australia’s richest cricketer.

He was due to be paid up to $2.5m a year by Cricket Australia under its lucrative new agreement with players, another $2.4m this year from his Indian Premier League contract with the Sun­risers Hyderabad, and more than $1m a year in sponsors’ endorsements.

But with Warner’s Cricket Australia contract due to expire on June 30, his IPL contract torn up and his sponsorships slashed, Warner will now make a fraction of the $6m figure this year.

Warner’s Toyota sponsorship generated some controversy during the 2016 Boxing Day Test, when he scored a century and performed the so-called “Toyota jump”.

Commentator Bill Lawry said: “Here goes the big jump. Toyota? Yes it is.” This saw debate in the media about whether commercial branding should impinge on sporting celebrations.

The Australian revealed last week that Warner and his wife Candice had shelled out $10m for six properties that are likely to have appreciated in value, mainly in the Sydney eastern beach suburb of Maroubra. He has also told this reporter he has owned shares in blue-chip Australian companies, including Woolworths and Westpac, and a stake in a Tasmanian vodka company.

Warner’s Kaboom Kid series of kids’ books has also been financially lucrative, and helped him to establish the “Kaboom” brand, trademarked for toys, clothing, sporting goods and food products.

When the scandal broke last week, Toyota said it had “no intention of changing our agreement with David Warner at this time”.