Warner’s leadership ban overturned by Cricket Australia

CA released the findings from the independent Conduct Commission review on Friday with the three-person panel unanimously deciding that Warner had met the necessary criteria to have ban lifted following changes to the code of conduct in 2022.

“In its decision the panel noted ‘the respectful and contrite tone of his [Warner’s] responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct’,” CA’s statement said.

“The panel also considered references citing ‘the contribution that Mr Warner has made, and can make in the future, towards the development of young cricketers in Australia if they were given the opportunity to be led by Mr Warner, his important continuing role in fostering interest in cricket especially with the South Asian community in Australia and generally’.”

In his submission to the panel Warner acknowledged that he had “let every single person down” in 2018 and said that he “100 percent regretted the actions that were taken and am extremely remorseful.”

Pat Cummins, Andrew McDonald, Greg Chappell, Lisa Sthalekar and Kane Williamson all provided character references for the hearing.

In Cummins’ submission, he said: “Since 2018, he has acknowledged his responsibility to the game and future generations and stepped up his engagement with communities who play cricket. David was instrumental in supporting the Australian Cricket Team undertaking the most recent tours to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. During these tours his upholding of the spirit of cricket and his respect for the opposition as did his
understanding of the importance of those tours for the game. These higher considerations transcended the matches we played in and were felt by the cricket-loving public in those nations.”

Warner is now firmly in the conversation to be the Thunder captain for the BBL where he will be available for an entire season for the first time.

“The fact he can be on the table as a captaincy option is definitely going to be spoken about,” Trent Copeland, the Thunder general manager, said. “Internally, the chats have already happened in terms of assessing if that will be a good decision. I think that’s a no-brainer. Everyone who knows Davey and has watched him over the years has seen him be a great captain and leader, particularly with the bat in hand.”

However, Copeland, who was involved closely with the process which concluded with a hearing last Thursday, said that it was about more than purely whether he could lead a side again.

“This is far bigger than a cricket captaincy role,” he said. “It’s leadership in a lifelong context. This was about him, his daughters in particular, the legacy he wants to leave for his family. This is about Davey, his family and ultimately in our belief what is right at this point in time.

“If that’s a lifelong ban, it’s still over him when he’s 50, 60. It just would never go away. It [what happened in 2018] may not ever go away, but I think at least this gives it a shot.”

On whether the ruling provided closure for Warner, New South Wales chief executive Lee Germon said: “You’d need to ask David that question…but through that process David has expressed great regret and remorse and think his actions since that ban has shown that he does regret that, so I imagine it does provide some closure for him in that regard.”

It had long been a source of frustration for Warner that he had been banned from leading any team in Australia while Steven Smith, who was the captain in the Cape Town Test and was also banned from playing for a year for his involvement in the scandal, has since returned to captain both the Australian Test and ODI team and remains the current Test vice-captain.

Warner had been allowed to captain teams around the world since his playing ban, having led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL. He had also hoped to get the chance to captain Australia’s T20 side late in his international career, before retiring from all formats following the T20 World Cup in June.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley said he was pleased Warner’s ban had been overturned.

“In 2022 we updated the Code of Conduct to ensure there was a fair and rigorous process in place for all players and player support personnel to have long-term sanctions reviewed,” Hockley said. “I am pleased David has chosen to have his sanction reviewed and that he will be eligible to take up leadership positions in Australian Cricket this summer.”