WARNER: I’M SORRY ...AND I’M A FAILURE Losing old habits is their true test
Architect in the ball-tampering row swerves answering the real questions
DAVID WARNER has admitted he may never play for Australia again after being exposed as a cheat and a liar.
The former vice-captain delivered an unconvincing performance in front of the media in Sydney in which he gave the public a chance to see how much he is apparently hurting.
Warner took his turn to shed a tear, ask the Aussie public for forgiveness and apologise for his part in ball-tampering in Cape Town, but left most of the important questions unanswered: Why did he do it? Who else knew about it? Had he ever done it before?
And does he feel like he is being made a scapegoat?
These were all left hanging, requiring Warner to take to social media minutes after his display to explain.
“I know there are unanswered questions and lots of them,” he tweeted.
“I completely understand. In time I will do my best to answer them all. But there is a formal Cricket Australia process to follow.
“I am taking advice to make sure I properly comply with that process and answer all questions in the proper place and at the proper time. I should have mentioned that in my Press conference, I’m sorry for not making it clearer.
“With so much at stake for my family and cricket, I have to follow this process properly. I think that’s fair.” Warner is probably not in the greatest position to be making calls on what is fair or not, but of course he has much to sort out away from the cameras if he is indeed to salvage his international career. “I take full responsibility for my part in what happened and I am deeply sorry for the consequences of what I was involved in,” he said. “I failed in my responsibilities as vicecaptain of the Australian cricket team.
“I’m sorry for the impact those actions have had on our country’s reputation. I can honestly say I’ve only ever wanted to bring glory to my country through playing cricket.
“In the back of my mind I suppose there is a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again, but I am resigned to the fact that that may never happen.”
Warner, along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft have until Thursday to decide whether to accept the sanctions imposed on them as they – along with the Australian Cricketers’ Association – are already making it plain that they consider the punishments too harsh.
There is still plenty to run in this saga with chief executive James Sutherland and high performance manager Pat Howard coming under increasing pressure as the men at the top who have overseen a culture that demands success at the expense of everything else.
Nottinghamshire and England batsman Alex Hales has been signed up by Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad as Warner’s replacement.