I am a leader in the side anyway without having a title: David Warner on lifetime captaincy ban
India Today
David Warner was one of three players involved in the 2018 ball-tampering incident against South Africa in Cape Town. He was handed a lifetime ban from holding any captaincy role.
Australia opener David Warner admitted that he is a leader in the side "without having a title" after returning to the Big Bash League after nine years.
Warner has signed a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder and is expected to play five matches after the third Test against South Africa in January. As the Thunder are yet to appoint a new captain for the 2022-23 season after the long-term skipper Usman Khawaja moved to Brisbane Heat, there is a growing demand to overturn the lifetime ban on Warner from holding the captaincy role, at least in the BBL.
The 35-year-old was one of three players involved in the 2018 ball-tampering incident against South Africa in Cape Town. The other two were Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft. Subsequently, he was prevented from holding any leadership role in Australian cricket.
Interestingly, Smith, who was the captain of Australia during the incident, was handed only a two-year ban from holding a captaincy role. He led Australia in the second Test match against England when Cummins was ruled out after being a Covid-19 close contact.
"That hasn't really been brought to the table," Warner was quoted as said. "As I've said plenty of times off the record, it's upon the board to reach out to me and open their doors. Then I can sit down and have an honest conversation with them. The board has changed since back in 2018 and when all those sanctions were dealt. It would be great to have a conversation with them and see where we are at."
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is one of the players who have been advocating overturning the ban on Warner. "I don't see why not. He's a brilliant leader. I hope so," Cummins had said at the recent Chappell Foundation dinner at the SCG.
Warner added that he can play a leadership role even though the Australian cricket board don't name him. "I've got the experience, I'm a leader in the side anyway without having a title," he said. "That's what I'm about, giving back, so if they [younger players] can pick my brains in any way, my phone is always there, they have my number, and they can see me when I'm at the practice facilities."
