Melbourne: Australia’s veteran opener David Warner hit a double century on Tuesday against South Africa in his 100th Test before being helped off the Melbourne Cricket Ground in agony.
En route to three figures, the 36-year-old passed 8,000 Test runs — the eighth Australian to do so — after coming into the game under pressure after a lean run.
He notched his first Test century since January 2020 to prove the doubters wrong on day two of the second Test and with the opposition bowlers tiring in searing heat, he battled the elements and converted it to 200.
His third Test double century came off 254 balls with 16 fours and two sixes in a test of endurance in the heat.
He needed treatment for cramp several times and eventually retired in pain on 200, helped off the field.
Warner, who dropped to his knees which he reached 200, insisted before the match that “you’re never out of form”.
“They’re not the words that I use and they’re definitely not used in our change rooms,” he said. “It’s about (being) out of runs.”
ADELAIDE: Candice Warner, wife of David Warner – former skipper of the Australian Cricket Team – faced ‘vile abuse’ at the hands of some unruly fans at the Adelaide Oval here.
Candice, who hosts a local radio show in the country with co-hosts Harley Breen and Tom Tiley, opened up on the terrifying incident she and her girls, Ivy and Indy, faced at the second test match of the national team against West Indies.
Sharing the ordeal, Candice revealed how a group of wild fans attacked her and girls with vile abuses at the match last week, and why she decided to confront the men.
“Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval, just before the lunch break, the girls wanted to see their dad, so we went from one area of Adelaide Oval to the other. It was probably about 200m,” the cricketer’s wife recalled.
She added, “In that time, I had two of my three daughters, my 8-year-old and my 3-year-old, we were walking hand-in-hand.”
“As we’re walking past a huge group of people, it was a group of five or six men who just started throwing vile abuse at me. I continued to walk and then I just stopped and I looked around at this group of men and it was one guy in particular,” Candice detailed.
“And they were laughing and they were pointing. And they thought what they did was okay.”
“So I decided to confront them. I didn’t have to, but with my girls in my hands, I thought it was really important to confront them because for us, my actions need to mirror the messages I give to my kids.”
“So I confronted them and like any group of men who have been drinking, they were weak, they were gutless, they didn’t own up to what they did and the man who was actually yelling this abuse was hiding behind his friend.”
Furthermore, Candice expressed her disappointment over the fact that those men thought the whole situation was funny and didn’t brave to own their mistake.
Moreover, the former ironwoman was disheartened to see that not a single person from ‘packed stadium’ bothered to come to their assistance as they saw her and the kids being bullied.
“The sad thing is that in a time when we’re trying to encourage more women, more girls to participate in sport, to attend sport, that I’m now starting to feel like it’s not safe for me and my kids to attend sport and support their father,” she concluded.
When further questioned if the men apologised upon being confronted, Candice refused, however, mentioned that one of those men from the group DMed her on Instagram.
“I didn’t say anything, but I also didn’t speak out so I’m very sorry about that and I’m sorry he said what he said. I know this won’t make up for anything but I just wanted to say sorry,” she read the message.
SYDNEY: Big-hitting Australian batsman David Warner Sunday signed a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder, ending a nine-year absence from the Big Bash League.
The 35-year-old opener has not played in the domestic Twenty20 competition since 2013 and said he wanted to get involved again to help support the next generation.
“I’m really excited to get back to the Big Bash with the club where I started,” said Warner, a veteran of 96 Tests, 133 ODIs and 91 T20 games for Australia.
“I care deeply about the game, and I am conscious that the conditions that I enjoy as a professional cricketer have largely come from other senior players who have come before me.
“That is how the game is structured and I understand that my contribution to the future of the BBL will hopefully benefit the next generation of players long after I am retired.”
Warner has not represented Thunder since the third BBL season, where he played just one game. He also played a single game for them in the inaugural season, and has appeared once for the Sydney Sixers.
He will join the team after his international commitments end in January and could be available for as many as five regular season matches.
“The club has a tremendous group of young talented batters and leaders, with the likes of Jason Sangha, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes and Baxter Holt,” said Thunder head coach Trevor Bayliss.
“They will all benefit greatly from Davey’s experience and guidance.”
The BBL season starts on December 13 when Thunder face the Melbourne Stars.
MELBOURNE: The Cricket Australia (CA) is likely to consider lifting the lifetime ban from their left-handed opener David Warner, The West Australian newspaper reported.
According to the details, Warner, who faced a lifetime ban from leadership roles by CA after the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, can now be allowed to hold a leadership role as the cricketing body is likely to review their decision.
During a Test match against South Africa in 2018, the Australian opener Camron Bancroft was caught altering the condition of the ball with sandpaper. After the investigation carried out by CA, the then captain Steve Smith, vice-captain Warner, and opener Bancroft were charged for the misconduct.
The investigation revealed Warner to be the mastermind of the shameful act and hence was handed the strongest punishment. While Bancroft was banned from playing for nine months, Smith and Warner were banned for a full year.
In addition, Warner received a lifetime ban from team leadership positions, while Bancroft and Smith received shorter bans of one and two years, respectively.
According to the recent report by the Australian newspaper, however, the CA are set to review Warner’s lifetime ban in July. And it is claimed the decision is an attempt to try and persuade Warner to play in the Big Bash (BBL) again, with the league suffering from flagging interest.
Henceforth, the General Manager of the BBL Alistair Dobson also hinted at Warner’s return to the league as the captain, in an interview with the local media house News Corp.
“I know we’d love to have Dave in the BBL and if there are other things that need to happen to make that possible, that’s for others to resolve,” Dobson said. “David has been such a champion of Australian cricket and he’s a player that we’d love to have in the BBL,” Dobson stated.
“We know he’s got great history with the Sydney Thunder and we’d love all the Australian players to be playing in the BBL if they’re available. If there’s a way that David could find his way onto a BBL list I think it would be huge,” he concluded.
MELBOURNE: The left-handed Australian opener David Warner opened up about his experience of the historic Pakistan tour and praised the hospitality of the nation.
Warner recalled his visit to Pakistan for the Australia cricket team’s historic tour to the country after a 24-year gap on a Fox Cricket programme, describing the hospitality as “second to none.”
“The hospitality was second to none and I’ve never had so much barbecued meat in my life. It was superb,” Warner stated.
The left-handed opener also expressed his joy in being a part of the historic series while also admitting that the players were a bit concerned and scared.
“It was a series that needed to be and I was glad I was a part of it. We were a little worried and scared but we had a lot of confidence in the communications between Cricket Australia, the High Commission over there, and the Pakistan Government. It was just a great series to be a part of,” Warner said.
Warner also discussed the funny staredown between him and Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi while terming the latter “a likeable character.”
“Yeah look he’s just a big gentle giant. We had some battles before. He’s just a lot likeable character. He obviously bowls with pace,” Warner shared.
KARACHI: Australia’s left-handed opener David Warner has revealed that he does not take part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to Australia’s international matches, here on Thursday.
Warner, while talking to the virtual press conference, has revealed the reason behind him not participating in the marquee event of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“We are often playing international cricket during the window of the PSL. That is the reason why I could not take part in the tournament,” he said.
Warner further said that he is enjoying his time in Pakistan and thinks that entertainment is a must to keep entertaining the crowd.
“I think entertainment is a must. I try to make cricket fans enjoy being on the ground,” he said.
Warner further appreciated the support from the Pakistan cricket fans and said they are very passionate and cricket-loving people.
“My fans follow me on Instagram and also come to the ground for support. The amount of support we have received in Pindi is unbelievable and I think these people are very passionate and love cricket so much,” he said.
The left-handed opener then went on to opine about the Karachi Test and the playing conditions on offer said it is a bit strange for us.
“Karachi’s wicket is a bit strange to us. Playing on the wicket here will also be a challenge,” he said.
“We will analyze the pitch during the practice session,” he added.
The left-handed opener however is determined to perform well in the Karachi Test. He also thanked the PCB, Cricket Australia (CA), and Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies for making this tour a success.
