AUSSIE WARNER DEALS FIRST BLOW TO THE HUNDRED

DAVID WARNER yesterday became the first big name to pull out of the ECB’s new Hundred competition to focus on international cricket. Warner, who was signed for the maximum £125,000 contract by Southern Brave in the Hundred draft last October, has told the Southampton-based franchise that he will instead make himself available for Australia’s one-day series against Zimbabwe in August. It is a blow for the ECB, who are determined to keep their new tournament as unaffected as possible by the coronavirus crisis that is set to wipe out at least the bulk of the County Championship season and the Royal London Cup. The Hundred is scheduled to begin on July 17 and could provide some of the first professional cricket in a truncated season. Warner, 33, was the second highest run-scorer at the 2019 Cricket World Cup, having contributed 647 runs — and three centuries — in ten innings. He was set to play for Southern Brave alongside fellow overseas picks Andre Russell and Shadab Khan, as well as England’s Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Ollie Pope. Warner’s decision, as confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald by his manager, was said not to be in any way related to the COVID-19 pandemic but rather because he wants to take a break with his family. However, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short are other Australians whose top-priced Hundred contracts could now be in jeopardy. Warner was also set to feature in the 2020 Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad but the start of the tournament has been pushed back from March 29 to April 15.