Cricket News

‘Not just gaining the respect back…’ – David Warner shares his views on ball-tampering incident

After announcing the retirement from ODI cricket, there were questions raised by David Warner about the ball tempering saga. The veteran Australian opener David Warner feels no remorse for the infamous ball-tampering scandal that took place during the away Test series against South Africa in March 2018. Warner views encountering challenges as a routine aspect of a player’s career and maintains that he has consistently faced them with dignity.

The star opener masterminded the scandal, resorting to unfair tactics to gain an advantage in the Newlands Test against South Africa. Cameron Bancroft, who utilized sandpaper for reverse swing, faced a nine-month ban from top-level cricket. Captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, both implicated, received one-year bans and were stripped of their leadership roles.

In a press conference on January 1, Warner urged athletes to keep advancing despite obstacles. Warner even highlighted that his passion for the sport played a crucial role in overcoming challenges.

“Reflecting on that, that whole period and my whole career, I’ve got no regrets. You’re going to have a lot of hurdles that you have to jump, there’s going to be obstacles along the way. But you have to move forward, and I’ve done that with dignity. I’ve got a lot of passion for the game, and it was important from my perspective that I’m giving back. Not just gaining the respect back, but putting Australian cricket first,” Warner said as reported by Circuit.

Warner retires from ODI cricket

The year didn’t begin on an ideal note for cricket enthusiasts as veteran Australian cricketer David Warner announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket. The star player revealed this decision just two days before his farewell Test match against Pakistan at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Warner disclosed that he contemplated retiring from the 50-over format during the 2023 World Cup, where Australia emerged as champions. The left-handed batter expressed the need to dedicate more time to his family. Particularly his wife Candice and their three daughters – Ivy, Isla, and Indi. Winning the World Cup in India was deemed special, and he feels he’s concluding his career on a high.

 “I’ve got to give back to the family. That (ODI retirement) was something I had said through the World Cup, get through that and winning that in India is a massive achievement,” Warner was quoted as saying in a press conference in Sydney.