David Warner is an Aussie hero who deserves to go on his terms
David Warner's redemption story is up there with the best of them, and we can admire & learn a few things from this great tale!
Before you get your ‘Arthur fists’ out after reading the title, apart from the ‘form’ argument, there are three reasons why David Warner (DW) has received animosity throughout his career:
DW’s Aggression
Sandpaper Gate (no explanation necessary)
Candice Warner & The Media
Let me address these in order.
The Aggression of David Warner
Let me set the scene…
Imagine growing up in the Housos at Matraville in a hard working Aussie family. Your mum’s a toiling aged-care nurse, your dad’s a salesman at your local Bunning’s equivalent. A fair wage may come in every month, but the luxuries of life are rare.
Pocket money isn’t enough? You’ll need to pack shelves at Woolies until the early hours of the morning to top up your funds. Need extra dollars for extra cricket gear? Add a 10km paper run on top of that.
Feel like your passion & performances warrant your very own Cricket bat (instead of the team kit’s twig) ? Fine, but you’re getting the SS not because of it’s quality, but because it’s cheap & not as likely to break as your brother’s Millichamp.
DW grew up knowing the importance of hard work, the value of money & the realities of taking things for granted. Which is why from a young age, he’s had to grit the teeth, work hard, and fight (no pun intended) for everything he’s achieved. Having gone to school with, and personally knowing a few from housing commission upbringings, there is a certain competitive grit & ticker that is hard to emulate.
We see this energy translate healthily to the cricket field where he takes on bowlers, scraps to gain & save every run (a point we will talk about later), and doesn’t take a backward step against adversity. Many hate this about him, but this attitude of aggression, being on the front foot, and standing up for your mate is one of the core DNAs of Australian sport (let alone Australian Cricket). Admonishing this trait, is admonishing the Steven Waughs, the Glen Mcgraths & the Allan Borders of our era.
We have seen this competitive nature also surface negatively in the Joe Root brawl incident & Sandpaper Gate however which brings me to the 2nd reason.
Sand-paper Gate
I was pretty vocal when this went down, and still hold true to my words. Knowingly cheating and bringing the game into disrepute needed consequences to punish those involved, but also deter future instances.
DW suffered & copped those consequences with a 12-month ban, as well as a lifetime leadership ban. I think it is fair to say that he did his time.
What doesn’t get airtime is that he protected his team-mates throughout the process, and was villianized as a result as the “chief orchestrator” of the scandal. Anyone that suggests that no one else knew about it, and therefore didn’t need protecting is kidding themselves. As a mediocre Park Cricketer, I question the slightest change of the ball between overs, so I can only imagine what was going through the minds of the elite professionals.
Regardless, DW can still get his critics flagging this moment as a blip in his career, and in Australian Cricket, but painting him with this brush requires the same treatment to every single Australian player in that setup. If not, play on…
Candice Warner & The Media
The Australian public has double standards on media personalities…
Kyle Sandilands gives an explosive opinion - “Haha! What a legend. Good on him for speaking his mind.”
Abbie Chatfield says something left field - “LOL! She’s hilarious. She’s such a great personality.”
Candice Warner shares her views on HER HUSBAND’s career scenarios - “How dare she comment on the inner sanctum! She’s starting to annoy me with all of these opinions on Australian cricket”.
Often Candice’ views on her husband’s career are met with criticism, a stark contrast to the applause other media personalities receive for their outspokenness. Candice brings a unique perspective, blending personal insight with professional understanding. Yet, her opinions are frequently dismissed, her support for her husband misconstrued. Isn't it time we appreciate her insights for what they are – informed, genuine, and worthy of respect? Candice being entitled to her opinion as a media personality, should be getting high fives for sticking up for her husband ‘for better, for worse’.
PS - Candice is also the real MVP for putting up with DW’s tiktoks 🙈
In closing, let's consider Warner's legacy. It's not just about the runs he scores; it's about his presence on the field. His fielding, his energy, and his ability to lift the team are just as valuable. I lost count of the amount of times I said ‘that’s gotta be 4’ in the World Cup, only for Warner to come out of nowhere to save certain boundaries. He has ticker & drive at his age, that many still laud Kohli for in the Subcontinent.
As he approaches his final series, let's acknowledge his transformative impact on the game. From redefining the role of an opener (which was already re-defined by Haydos) to being a pivotal part of Australia's cricketing success, Warner's career is a testament to resilience and passion.
So, as we bid farewell to Warner in his final series, let's celebrate the entirety of his journey – the grit, the controversy, and the triumphs. Here’s to Warner, a cricketer who epitomizes the Australian spirit in every aspect of his game who will go down as an Australian great (Top 10 Australian Test career runs / 2nd Highest Australian Test Score / Triple Centurian / 2nd highest Australian Test Strike Rate / 5 X Test Man Of The Series / Century in a session…..the list goes on )
Go well in your final series David.
Regards,
A fellow Roosters member
