Warner’s welcome takes flight
DAVID Warner yesterday took a small but significant step in his reintegration into the Australian cricket team simply by catching a plane.
It wasn’t where he was going – Brisbane – that was significant. It was who else was on the plane.
Warner arrived in Brisbane with fellow Sydneysiders Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon and captain Aaron Finch for Australia’s World Cup training camp, which will include three trial matches against a weakened New Zealand side next week.
Warner re-enters the Australia fold following the ending of his year-long ban for being the mastermind of Australia’s ball-tampering affair against South Africa in Cape Town.
It had been widely reported and understood the relationship between Warner and the bowlers dipped to crisis point after the ball tampering affair.
The bowlers denied they threatened to boycott the final Test of the series if Warner played but their collective anger was well known. While catching the same flight together is hardly a sign that all has been forgiven and forgotten, it is symbolic of the collective will of a team trying to move on from Cape Town.
Asked whether he was happy to see Warner back in the team kit, Starc said: “It is great to see everyone with the team kit on ... it has been a while for a few of us.
“I have seen the IPL highlights and he has been on fire over there along with Steve and that is great for the group.’’
Asked if the scandal has been put to bed Starc said: “That is up to you guys, isn’t it? As far as we are concerned it is onwards and upwards to the World Cup.”
Smith was not on the plane because he came in earlier from the IPL.