“Very Bizarre”: David Warner Dumbfounded By Australia’s Leadership Ban

Australia opener David Warner, who recently retired from Tests, has questioned the decision of the country’s cricket board to impose a lifetime ‘leadership’ ban on him. On being Warner suggested that the decision doesn’t make any sense considering he will be eligible to coach Australia in the future. The 36-year-old was banned from captaining Australia for playing his part in the ball-tampering scandal during the South Africa tour in 2018. The player was also banned from cricket for a year, along with the then captain Steve Smith and batter Cameron Bancroft, for altering conditions of the ball during the Cape Town Test.

While pointing out that coaching is a important as captaincy, Warner said he is unable to understand why Cricket Australia hasn’t revoked his ‘leadership ban’.

“What’s the difference between captaining and coaching? You’ve got more responsibility as a coach, wouldn’t you think so? I don’t know, I’m not sure, I don’t know how to answer. It’s been five years, and I still don’t know how to answer the question. It’s just something that’s hard to get my head around. Apparently, I will be able to coach if allowed to in Australia. But I can’t captain. So yeah, I’m not sure what it is. It’s under contract with Australia. It’s a leadership position, so I’m not sure; I just don’t know. It’s very bizarre,” Warner told Code Sports, as quoted by news.com.au.

Warner also highlighted the positive impact of the Indian Premier League in his career, saying that the tournament allowed him to change his approach.

“I would have changed early doors; I wouldn’t have been that attack dog. If IPL came around earlier, in my mind, I found that the more I get to know people, the more I wouldn’t actually go at someone. And I felt like I was actually directed to be that person, to go out there and attack opposition players and get under their skin. I think just because that was me growing up and being attacked verbally, playing grade cricket, that’s all you knew growing up,” he added.

Warner drew curtains on his amazing Test career earlier this month, having played his final game at his home stadium, Sydney Cricket Ground, against Pakistan.