Warner urges fans to keep the faith with team

BANNED opener David Warner has urged Australians to get behind the country’s cricket team as it tries to emerge from one of the darkest periods in its history.

Australia’s win over South Africa on Friday night was its first in eight one-day internationals, while the Aussies’ winning rate since Warner’s fateful involvement in the ball-tampering scandal was just 25 per cent across all formats heading into yesterday’s clash at Blundstone Arena.

Warner and ex-captain Steve Smith are suspended until the end of March and Cameron Bancroft until the end of December while a number of executives, directors and coach Darren Lehmann have since fallen on their swords following the drama and subsequent review.

But Warner asked fans not to give up on the team through this trying period.

“We’ve got to keep on trying to be positive and pump them up because they’re trying their hardest,” Warner said in a rare interview.

“It’s quite challenging when you’re in a team, when both teams are working out their combinations for next year’s World Cup.

“They’re training their backsides off to win games. If we can be a bit more positive in what we do, it will help them go a long away.”

Warner and Smith will both be available to return for Australia for next year’s oneday World Cup in England.