Cricket Veteran David Warner Reflects on Ball-Tampering Fallout Ahead of T20 World Cup Swansong
Veteran Australian batter David Warner has opened up about the lasting impact of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, stating that he has been the sole player to face ongoing scrutiny since the incident. As he prepares to bid farewell to international cricket at the end of the ongoing T20 World Cup, the 37-year-old is looking forward to no longer being defined by the events that transpired in Cape Town.
“One can only absorb so much,” Warner told Cricket Australia. “Coming back since 2018 I’ve probably been the only one that’s ever copped a lot of flak.”
The former vice-captain was found to have orchestrated the plan to illegally alter the condition of the ball, leading to year-long bans for both him and then-captain Steve Smith. Opening batter Cameron Bancroft, who carried out the act, was suspended for nine months.
While Warner remains a key member of the Australian side aiming to add the T20 World Cup title to their 50-over and World Test Championship crowns, he acknowledges that the scandal will forever be associated with his legacy.
“If they’re real cricket tragics and they love cricket, they will always see me as that cricketer – someone who tried to change the game,” he said. “Someone who tried to follow in the footsteps of the openers before me, and try and score runs at a great tempo and change Test cricket.”
Despite the lingering effects of the 100-ball cricket live saga, Warner is eager to be remembered for his explosive batting prowess and the impact he has had on the game. As he prepares to step away from international club cricket, the veteran batter hopes to finally move on from the events that have defined much of his career in recent years.
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