With less than two weeks remaining in his international career, Australian cricketer David Warner has reflected on his complicated legacy and opened up about the emotional aftermath of the infamous ball-tampering saga.
The ongoing T20 World Cup will be Warner’s final assignment in national colours, ending a 15-year international career that featured three World Cup triumphs and 49 centuries — but he will remain involved in the sport as a T20 freelancer and Fox Cricket commentator.
The 37-year-old has been a polarising figure throughout his career, most notably for his involvement in the Cape Town scandal of 2018, where Australian teammate Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing sandpaper on the match ball.
Cricket Australia handed Warner a 12-month ban after the incident, but the ill-fated South Africa tour has continued plaguing him in the years since.
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Speaking to reporters in Antigua on Monday, Warner lamented how he became a lightning rod for vitriolic abuse after returning to the national side in 2019.
“My back was always up against the wall when I came back, and I knew that. I copped my fair share over my career,” Warner said.
“I’ve probably been the only one that’s ever copped a lot of flak, from whether it’s people who don’t like the Australian cricket team or don’t like me.
“I’ve always been that person who has copped it.
“I always feel like I’ve taken a lot of pressure off a lot of guys as well and I think understandably, I’ve been that person to be able to absorb that.
“But one can only absorb (so much).
“For me it’s great to go out knowing I’m not going to cop it anymore.
“I felt I had great support from, especially our coaching group now and selectors have been great.
“All in all I’ve had a privileged career, since 2018 I’ve really enjoyed that time coming back and just being around the guys and training hard and working as hard as I can.”
The ball-tampering scandal has undeniably left an asterisk on Warner’s legacy in the sport, but the left-hander hopes cricket fans will remember him for his achievements with the bat rather than that fateful day at Newlands.
Only one Australian has scored more international runs than Warner — the legendary Ricky Ponting — while he’s one of the few modern greats to excel in all three formats over a long period.
“It’s going to be inevitable that when people talk about me in 20 or 30 years’ time, there will always be that sandpaper scandal,” Warner continued.
“But for me, if they’re real cricket tragics and they love cricket, and my closest supporters, they will always see me as that cricketer. Someone who tried to change the game. Someone who tried to follow in the footsteps of the openers before me and tried to score runs at a great tempo and change Test cricket in a way. Be that person who went from T20 cricket to play Test cricket – batting at No. 6 and then opening.
“For me, hopefully I can be remembered for that, but I understand 2018, it always comes up and it’s unfortunate – but it is what it is.”
Warner also referenced NFL superstar Tom Brady, who copped a four-game suspension in 2015 after he was caught taking air out of footballs before a finals’ match.
Despite the scandal, where the New England Patriots were fined millions and forfeited two selections at the 2016 player draft, Brady is still remembered as one of sport’s greatest modern athletes.
“The Tom Brady thing with ‘deflategate’, it sort of blew over,” Warner said.
“But because this is our national sport, and there was a lot going on at the time with the Australian Prime Minister, his cabinet deflected upon cricket.
“There was a great deflection and there was a lot going on in the politics world as well. So the focus shifted towards the Australian cricket team. It was difficult. That was difficult.”
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The undefeated Australians have qualified for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup after securing four consecutive wins during the group stage, including a crucial victory over reigning champions England.
Australia, having won last year’s World Test Championship final in England and World Cup in India, is five matches away from becoming the first nation to unify the three major ICC trophies.
“I think it would be special, most definitely,” Warner said.
“As a team you strive for as much success as you can and to do that would be a great accomplishment. It’s not just for me, it’s about the systems we’ve had in place, the way the coaches and selectors have structured the whole thing.
“It’s been a process of 18-24 months and they’ve done a fantastic job to one, keep the guys on the park, but two, keep that core group together and I think it will be a fantastic fit for all of us.”
Australia will next face Bangladesh at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEST.