David Warner has slammed Cricket Australia for their handling of his captaincy saga as the out-of-form opener insists he CAN reinstate himself in the Boxing Day Test: ‘I don’t have ANY support’
- David Warner has slammed Cricket Australia for a lack of support
- The opener withdrew his appeal against his captaincy ban this month
- He said he did not get any support from Cricket Australia after that
- Warner backed himself to regain his form in the Boxing Day Test
Pugnacious Australian opener David Warner has fired back at Cricket Australia, saying they did not support him at the start of this domestic season.
On Monday, Warner will become the 14th Australian to play 100 Tests when the host nation take on South Africa at the MCG in a Boxing Day match.
But it’s been a turbulent domestic season for Warner so far, as he struggles for a run and deals with the ongoing fallout from Sandpapergate.
David Warner has slammed Cricket Australia for a lack of support this month
Earlier this month, he withdrew an appeal against the CA ruling ban and expressed his anger about the process.
On Saturday, he said he was not in a good state of mind ahead of the first Test against the West Indies in Perth.
‘My mental health is probably not where it is, or where I need it to be 100 per cent – and that’s hard,’ she says.
‘If I had my way, we would have had it all sorted.
‘From CA’s point of view, I really have no support.
Warner withdrew his appeal against his lifetime captaincy ban earlier this month
But the opener said Cricket Australia had not offered support in the wake of his saga
‘My teammates and the staff on our team were absolutely amazing, and my family and friends, so they really got me through that time.’
He doubled down on his criticism of the CA when asked why the process around appealing his leadership ban took so long.
Warner, captain Steve Smith and teammate Cameron Bancroft were punished for their roles when Australia were caught ball-tampering during the 2018 Newlands Test against South Africa.
In particular, Warner wanted to overturn his lifetime ban from leadership and has now given up that fight – but bad blood at CA remains strong.
‘We reached in February, so we have no idea how it has gone so far,’ he said.
‘Ca only CA can answer that and they’ll probably give you the same thing that they always give everyone else – they don’t really give an answer.’
The veteran batsman insisted that he will regain his form in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa
But Warner also emphasized that the ill feeling towards CA does not permeate the entire Test team.
He also said he will probably try to clear the air in CA once this series is over, adding his mindset is better heading into the Boxing Day Test.
‘It’s Christmas time … it’s the festive part of the year, I’m in a great head space now,’ he said.
‘I’m pumped to walk out here and play another Boxing Day Test, but more importantly, we’ve got a series on the line.
‘I hope Santa Claus comes tonight.’
Warner was blasted for a golden duck and three in the first Test as his carefree form continued, but he is adamant he will turn things around.
‘Yes, my back is against the wall, but it’s in my DNA to continue to be competitive, to come out here with a smile on my face and face whatever opposition we face,’ he said.
Asked if he wanted to continue playing Test cricket beyond this series, Warner replied: ‘One hundred per cent.
I love it. I wake up every day, I get out of bed knowing I have a game the next day, with the same smile on my face, the same energy and enthusiasm.
‘Ask which of the players in the change room is the loudest, it’s me.
‘This is where I live.’
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