Sydney: Banned Australian cricketer David Warner has said Saturday that he was humbled and overwhelmed by the support he had received following the ball tampering scandal in the third Test against South Africa in March that rocked the sport, with the feisty opener refocused on his family.
While Warner was charged as the mastermind of the whole scandal former skipper Steve Smith was charged with knowledge of the ball-tampering plot and instructing fellow opener Cameron Bancroft to carry it out. Smith and then vice-captain Warner were banned for 12 months while Bancroft was exiled for nine months.
Speaking for the first time since an emotional press conference where he apologised last month, Warner informed Australian newspaper NT News that he was using his time away from cricket to reconnect with his family.
“I am enjoying my family time now and it’s worthwhile. I’ve missed that part where the kids run up to the gate saying ‘Mummy and Daddy are here’ and I am really enjoying and embracing that. Children’s swimming lessons and gymnastics classes are my priorities now,” Warner said.
“I think I’ve learned a valuable lesson in this myself for the support I have been given to be on the front foot to help others.”
However, in a recent development Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has announced that the doors for a return are opened for tainted trio and the cricketing body has also appointed former player Justin Langer as the head coach of the team after Darren Lehmann resigned from the post following the scandal.
Agence france-presse