Australia’s disgraced opener David Warner just cannot get off the spotlight following the sensational ball tampering scandal. Everything is going haywire for Warner since it was revealed that he was involved in the planning.
Cricket Australia came down heavily on all the players, handing them lengthy bans. The board banned Warner for a year. It also announced that he would never be considered for any leadership role. His personal sponsors have also ended ties with him.
And as if those were not enough, he has become a laughing stock on internet. Instagram photos of his wife and children were bombarded with vile comments from trolls.
While Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft have garnered sympathy following their emotional press-conference, Warner has not been that lucky. The former Australia vice-captain broke down during his press conference on Saturday but the trolls still took a shot at him. And the reason behind the same was perhaps his defensive stance in the conference.
The attacking batsman made sure that he does not reveal any more detail about the scandal. Presented with some tough questions, Warner did not answer them and instead relied on issuing his apology repeatedly.
Here is a snippet of his press-conference:
Read the full transcripts from the Warner, Smith, Bancroft & Lehmann press conferences here: https://t.co/CsxflxQyCo pic.twitter.com/iqSoge4MUk
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 31, 2018
Meanwhile, Warner’s uncharacteristic press-conference was enough for Twitter to take a shot at him. Here are some of the reactions:
https://twitter.com/gregjames/status/979876192793833474?
David Warner will take your questions, but you’ll get the same answer.
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) March 31, 2018
Journo: David, what’s the square root of 64?
Warner: As I said before, I’m here to take full responsibility for my actions and I regret what…— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/ethan_meldrum/status/979875749329956864?
Somehow, even when David Warner is in the pits of despair, apologising unreservedly, he’s still annoying.
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) March 31, 2018
David Warner’s preparing for his media conference @sportsbetcomau pic.twitter.com/LlnZrFHdFR
— Robert Burnett (@burnett_robert) March 31, 2018
Journo: ‘Dave, what’s for lunch?’
Warner: ‘I’m here to accept my responsibility in the incident’ #Warner
— Tom Ford (@TomFord83) March 31, 2018
Bancroft, Smith and Warner press conferences.
All dressed identically, all sorry, all 'will regret for rest of their lives.'
But none revealed what happened, why they did it and whether other players involved.— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) March 31, 2018
Interestingly, Warner took to Twitter to admit that he did not answer the questions properly. In his defence, he said he would try to answer them when the time comes.
1/3 I know there are unanswered questions and lots of them. I completely understand. In time i will do my best to answer them all. But there is a formal CA process to follow.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 31, 2018
2/3 I am taking advice to make sure I properly comply with that process and answer all questions in the proper place and at the proper time.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 31, 2018
3/3 I should have mentioned that in my press conference I’m sorry for not making it clearer. With so much at stake for my family and cricket I have to follow this process properly. I think that’s fair.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 31, 2018