Cricket Australia clears David Warner for leadership role again

Cricket Australia (CA) has lifted the lifetime leadership ban imposed on David Warner, enabling him to captain Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL).

The 37-year-old made his case to a three-member independent panel, which assessed Warner's character and conduct, concluding he met all criteria for the ban to be revoked effective immediately.

"The respectful and contrite tone of his 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," the panel stated.

"Mr Warner's conduct and behaviour since the imposition of the sanction has been excellent and he appears to have made a substantial change, one example of which is that he no longer sledges or tries to provoke the opposing team.

"The Review Panel is more than satisfied that Mr Warner will not engage in any conduct similar to that which occurred in 2018 which resulted in the sanction and that the sanction has thus had the relevant quality of specific deterrence."

Warner's leadership ban dates back to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, where he, then the team’s vice-captain, was found to have orchestrated the scheme.

Following the incident, Warner received a lifetime captaincy ban alongside a one-year playing suspension. Fellow teammates Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were also handed bans, although Warner's was the most severe.

In 2022, Warner initially appealed for the ban to be lifted but withdrew after expressing frustration over the inquiry’s conduct.

However, CA later updated its Code of Conduct, introducing a process to review long-term sanctions, paving the way for Warner's second attempt at lifting the ban.

"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," Nick Hockley, CA's Chief Executive Officer, said on Friday (October 25).

"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."

Warner received substantial support from cricket figures during the hearing, including written endorsements from Test captain Pat Cummins, coach Andrew McDonald, former Australian captain Greg Chappell, and Lisa Sthalekar, former women’s team captain and Federation of International Cricketers’ Association president.

Former Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Kane Williamson of New Zealand also submitted a letter supporting Warner's character transformation.

Warner’s retirement from international cricket followed the 2024 T20 World Cup, marking the end of his illustrious career with Australia, where he was a prolific run-scorer and fierce competitor.