David Warner on Sunday called on Cricket Australia to “open their doors” to discuss lifting his life ban from management, saying he looked forward to a “frank conversation” with the board. Following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018, former captain Steve Smith was stripped of his captaincy and banned from leading Australia for two years, while Warner received a more severe punishment – a lifetime ban from management.
However, several former and current players, including Test captain Pat Cummins, have called for an end to Warner’s life ban. “That wasn’t really put forward,” Warner said, according to ESPN Cricinfo. “As I’ve said many times off the record, it’s up to him to reach out to me and open the door for them. Then I can sit down and have an honest conversation with them,” he added.
Warner, Smith and batsman Cameron Bancroft were banned from playing domestic or international cricket as punishment for their roles in the infamous ball-tampering scandal. Warner and Smith were banned for one year, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months. Warner, 35, will make his first appearance in the Big Bash League since 2013 after signing a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder. The captaincy is open at Sydney Thunder after their former captain Usman Khawaja moved to Brisbane Heat.
However, Warner said he can be a leader without having the title. “I have experience, anyway I am a leader in the party without having a title,” he said. “That’s what I’m all about, coming back so if (the younger players) can somehow pick my brain, my phone is always there, they have my number and they can see me when I’m in the training facilities ,he said.
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