Warner leadership ban set for review
DAVID Warner’s leadership ban is set to be reviewed by the Cricket Australia board as pressure mounts on the game to try and convince the Test star to play in the Big Bash.
It’s been four years since Warner was sensationally smashed with a lifetime ban from captaincy and vice-captaincy across all levels of Australian cricket for his role in the Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
However, after long remaining tight-lipped over the sanction – even after Steve Smith returned to captain the Test team last summer – News Corp can reveal Cricket Australia’s board is now poised to officially discuss the merits of overturning Warner’s ban.
The move comes as Channel 7 chief executive James Warburton called on Cricket Australia to “put their money where their mouth is” and prove that the Big Bash League is the game’s top priority by pulling out all stops to get the Australian Test stars to play this January.
Despite the fact a midJanuary ODI series against South Africa is set to be cancelled, fast bowling superstars Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are unlikely to feature in the BBL due to workload constraints – making Warner’s blockbuster presence even more vital as arguably the greatest T20 batsman Australia has produced.
As it stands, Warner is at long odds to play the BBL but, if a decision was made by the CA board to abolish the leadership ban, it would give administrators a shot at persuading him to return to the league for the first time since 2011.
Big Bash chief Alistair Dobson said he wasn’t in a position to comment on Cricket Australia board discussions, but made it clear the league wants Warner.
“It’s not one I can really comment on specifically. I know we’d love to have Dave in the BBL and if there are other things that need to happen to make that possible, that’s for others to resolve,” Dobson told News Corp.
“I’m aware of some historical considerations that exist in whether David wants to play in the BBL or not, and it’s not really for me to comment on other than we’d love to have him if he wants to play.
“David has been such a champion of Australian cricket and he’s a player that we’d love to have in the BBL.
“We know he’s got great history with the Sydney Thunder and we’d love all the Australian players to be playing in the BBL if they’re available.
“If there’s a way that David could find his way onto a BBL list I think it would be huge.”
As the heat rises from broadcasters ahead of the new TV rights deal, Warburton urged CA to not let a golden opportunity slip to flood the BBL with Australian talent for the first time in its history.
“The best thing Cricket Australia can do is say to South Africa, ‘ OK, don’t come’, and have all those Australian Test and white ball superstars’ play in the BBL, subject to workload,” Warburton said.
“They’ve got to put their money where their mouth is. Nick Hockley consistently says the Big Bash is his No. 1 priority, but it hasn’t been, and it’s 60 per cent of the rights fee.”
News Corp understands the ACA board will discuss Warner’s leadership ban at its next directors meeting in midJuly.