Warner ratchets up aggro
DAVID Warner has called on ICC umpires to keep the whistle in the back pocket this Ashes series and allow the staunch enemies a long leash on sledging and intimidation.
The Australian vice-captain yesterday lamented the watering down of on-field contests and revealed he had purposefully stayed out of verbal con- frontations after becoming sick of being pinged every time he opened his mouth.
However, Warner has reiterated that he is planning a return to his trademark onfield aggression this summer and is hoping match officials treat the Ashes like a rugby league State of Origin, where a blind eye is occasionally turned to the rule book.
“I would like to see it like a bit of State of Origin. Let things just flow and you deal with everything afterwards. Let a couple of penalties go and get on with it,” Warner said.
“That little stuff is sort of slowly being taken out of the game. I love it as a batsman. If a bowler bowls a bouncer or I play and miss, and he looks at me — and not swears at me — but gives me a little bit of an earful or something then it gets you going. It’s exciting, people want to see that.
“I think that is missing a little bit from the game now. Obviously we can’t overstep the mark, but sometimes the ICC and umpires take action over little things you do.”
Warner was once known as Australia’s attack dog, but grew weary of the added scrutiny and punishments that came with that responsibility.
The turning point came when umpires took to him for an incident at the MCG a few summers ago when he was recorded telling Rohit Sharma to “speak English”, even though the Indian batsman was doing all the swearing and getting away with it.
Warner confirmed he had decided to throw caution to the wind again this summer for the sake of the Ashes, but admitted he had been scarred by previous scrutiny.
“I definitely have [softened my approach], because I know every time I open my mouth I get a point deducted or I get a fine of some sort,” he said.
“Whether I’ve overstepped the line or not. I don’t want to have to come off the field all the time and have to fill out an incident report or whatever it is the umpires give us.”