Candice Warner, the wife of Australia opener David Warner, has slammed Cricket Australia (CA) for their lack of support for the southpaw in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal which happened during the 2018 Cape Town Test between South Africa and Australia.
Australian cricketer David Warner was embroiled in the infamous sandpaper saga in South Africa five years ago, copping a lifetime leadership ban over the scandal that dominated headlines in 2018. He was also banned for one year along with Steve Smith, who lost his captaincy, and Cameron Bancroft who was banned for nine months.
However, Steve Smith is now the vice-captain in both ODIs and Test matches and recently captained Australia in absence of regular captain Pat Cummins.
However, David Warner, who requested a hearing on his leadership ban, backed off after it was revealed that the hearing would be public and he didn’t want his friends and family to relive the horrific saga.
There Was No Cricket Australia Official Helping David Warner: Candice Warner
Speaking on The Matty Johns Podcast this week, Warner opened up on the lack of player welfare offered to David after they returned from South Africa. She slammed CA for not supporting Warner at all after the controversial incident.
“There was no support. Basically from when we left the hotel in South Africa, David was wiped. There was no Cricket Australia official helping him. There was nothing. It’s like basically you fend for yourself now. It was basically fend for yourself, see you later. Thanks for your services.
Probably, we’re going to do our best for you not to ever come back and play cricket for our country again. We’re going to blame you for everything, and that’s what they did,” Candice Warner said.
Candice Warner further claimed there “wasn’t enough support” from CA after St George’s Park patrons were seen wearing Sonny Bill Williams masks during the second Test between South Africa and Australia, taunting the former Ironwoman champion about her toilet tryst with the footballer.
“I was even told by someone within Cricket Australia at the time within the team that it’s in the team’s best interest to keep your mouth shut. That fired me up, and David up … we have so much respect for the team, but we’re also human beings. There was no help, at all. It’s sad, because I learnt to just accept it,” she added.
David Warner is currently playing for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing IPL 2023.