WHIRLWIND WARNER Opener blasts quick-fire 36 in return to cricket in Australia
IT WAS only back in late March when David Warner was a teary mess, and he could barely get a word out at his Sydney Airport press conference following the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
But in the idyllic surrounds of Darwin – the Top End capital enjoying a 26-degree dry season afternoon yesterday – the exiled former Australian Test vice-captain could not wipe the smile off his face.
In just the fourth month of his 12-month suspension for his part in “Sandpapergate”, Warner hit a typically enter- taining 36 off 32 balls in his first knock back on Australian soil, for City Cyclones against Northern Tide at Marrara.
The 31-year-old showed he might just be impossible to ignore when his suspension ends after the 2018-19 summer, after belting five fours and one six.
He hit three boundaries in one Jake Reed over, before belting the Victorian representative paceman for six.
“I actually felt really good. It was a good wicket out there. It’s good to be back home (in Australia) and to play good cricket,” Warner said.
“Not at all, (there were) no nerves at all.”
Two of the past three in- nings for the “pocket dynamo” for Winnipeg in the Global T20 in Canada included scores of 42 off 35 and 55 off 36.
“Not (surprised to bat well) after the couple of weeks I had in Canada. Waiting for the ball over there was the key, and to come back here and play on a wicket with a bit more in it was nice,” Warner said.
“I had a hit here (on Friday) and felt good, and I’m ticking along to make sure I’m preparing well for CPL coming up (starting August 8, Warner to play for St Lucia Stars).”
The hard- hitting opener has been impressed with the quality of cricketers in the Territory.
And NT Cricket is hoping to use the publicity gained from his appearance in the Strike League to boost its case for hosting Australia’s threematch one-day international series against Zimbabwe, pencilled in for June 2020 in the Future Tours Programme.
“We’ve seen a fair few players come from up here and play for South Australia. We’ve had D’Arcy (Short) and Richo (Kane Richardson) and a few other guys who have gone on and played at the higher level.
“It’s fantastic (the NT Cricket pathway).”
Warner said he reflected a lot and grew as a person since the ball-tampering saga in South Africa.
“I don’t listen to the negativity. I’m a positive person and I’ll keep doing the best I can to help as many people out as possible,” he said. “I wanted to keep helping and giving back to the guys here in the (Territory cricket) community.”
“It was a good wicket …. It’s good to be back home” DAVID WARNER