sport news Australian cricket legends Ian Healy and Michael Clarke erupt over David Warner ... trends now
A war of words has erupted between Aussie cricket legends over the treatment David Warner has faced over his life leadership ban stemming from the infamous ball-tampering scandal.
Test veteran Ian Healy, Simon O'Donnell, Damien Fleming and former skipper Michael Clarke have all spoken out over Warner's reaction to a saga that has never really gone away since Cameron Bancroft rubbed a bit of sandpaper on a cricket ball in 2018.
Warner released an explosive statement on Instagram on Wednesday night, fearing a 'public lynching' if he was subjected to a public 'trial' over his appeal to have his leadership ban overturned.
Warner and many other high-profile cricket figures like Clarke and Healy have heavily criticised Cricket Australia's decision to effectively outsource the appeals process to an independent panel, which wants to revisit the ball-tampering affair and make the evidence public.
David Warner, pictured with wife Candice and daughters Ivy Mae, Indi Rae and Isla Rose after a Test in 2018, released a statement on Wednesday announcing he was withdrawing his attempt to have his leadership ban overturned
Once that happened, it became clear to Warner that and his family with wife Candice would face yet another period of intense scrutiny if he went ahead with trying to get his leadership ban lifted.
Healy, one of Australian cricket's most popular and respected figures, was full of praise for the way Warner had criticised that decision with his carefully thought-out statement.
'He's (Warner) prepared this 800-word document quite well, very well actually. Now, I would like to see a similar style response by the independent panel,' he told SEN Queensland on Wednesday morning.
'He has saved cricket here. That panel was going to air cricket's problems. Why?
'Don't air those negotiations, get the job done no matter what it takes behind closed doors. I agree with David Warner that it doesn't need to be in public unless I get convinced by their response today,' said Healy.
Cricket Australia have already admitted they would have preferred it if the hearing was kept in house - though the question still remains as to why they would then entrust the process to a Counsel instead of conducting the review themselves.
119-Test veteran Ian Healy spoke out in support of Warner after his explosive statement
It is yet another case of Cricket Australia digging themselves further into a hole over their messy handling of an incident.
'We are disappointed with this outcome as our intention was to give David the opportunity to demonstrate why his lifetime leadership ban should be varied at an independent hearing and we amended our Code of Conduct accordingly,' a Cricket Australia spokesman said on Wednesday night.
'We supported David's wish for these discussions to be heard behind closed doors and respect his decision to withdraw his application.
'David is a very senior and highly regarded member of the Australian team who has been a great ambassador for the game as a whole since his return from a year-long ban.'
Damien Fleming (centre, pictured with former Australian coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine) said on Channel 7's broadcast of today's Test that he would much rather be talking about the cricket than the events of 2018
Fleming and Clarke were both flummoxed by Cricket Australia's handling of the situation, with the former saying he was 'disappointed' they didn't make the decision themselves.
'It is disappointing. We want to talk about the play and the Test match, (but) four and a half years later Cape Town is still lingering, isn't it,' Fleming said on Channel 7's pre-match coverage of day one of the second Test match against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval.
'The win-win for me would have been once the door got opened, to open it wide, (and) give him the chance to have a leadership role in Australian cricket.
'At 36, that is unlikely in the Australian team, but certainly likely in the BBL. If he was captaining the Sydney Thunder, that is great for the tournament,' said Fleming.
Clarke, who faced a similar amount of public scrutiny to Warner when he was skipper due to his profile off the field, explained why his former teammate might be even more aggrieved than he was previously.
Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke said he could understand why Warner was frustrated at the treatment and his life ban, particularly with Steve Smith due to lead Australia in this Test
'You can tell he's (Warner) disappointed and frustrated. I think the other thing that probably hurts a little bit more is the fact Steve Smith is going to captain this Test match,' he said on Sky Radio's Big Sports Breakfast.
'I don't know if it's fair to make David Warner the complete scapegoat and say everyone else can go back to normal.
'We'll forgive you but we won't forgive Davey. I'm not sure any of them should be involved in a leadership role.
'It's a tough one for Davey to swallow, rules in place for him and not for the others.'
When 'Sandpapergate' rocked cricket in 2018 after the incident at Newlands in Cape Town during the third Test of a spiteful series, Warner was found to be the ringleader who encouraged Cameron Bancroft to rub sandpaper on the ball.
David Warner and wife Candice, pictured at a launch for the Everest racing carnival in September, have both spoken out about Cricket Australia's handling of the saga
David Warner conducted a tearful and carefully staged press conference when he returned to Australia in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in 2018
Warner was banned from international and domestic cricket involving Australia for a year, and banned from ever holding a leadership position again while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
Smith was found to know of the plan but failed to prevent it, and as a result faced a two-year leadership ban in addition to one year out from the game at the top-level.
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