David Warner reveals one thing he’d change if he had his time again and slams leadership ban from Sandpapergate cheating scandal
- Warner says he regrets being an “attack dog.”
- Says his leadership ban is ‘very bizarre’
- He says the ban is difficult to understand
Newly retired David Warner has revealed the one thing he would change if given time again, as well as his annoyance at the “very bizarre” leadership ban imposed following the Sandpapergate scandal.
Warner, 37, rode off into the sunset two weeks ago as Australia recorded a 3-0 win over Pakistan at the SCG, with the veteran stepping aside for the next generation.
The Australian cricket great now says he regrets the aggressive nature he had at the start of his career.
“I would have changed doors sooner, I wouldn’t have been that ‘attack dog,'” Warner said Code sports.
“If IPL came earlier, I found that the more I get to know people, the more often I wouldn’t really attack someone. And I felt like I was basically tasked to be that person, to go out there and attack opponents and get under their skin.
David Warner has revealed that he regrets being an ‘attack dog’ early in his career
Warner has retired from Test cricket but will still play short formats
‘Yes, it allowed me to play better because they came at me, but that wasn’t what I always intended.
“I think just because I grew up being verbally assaulted and played cricket, that’s all you knew growing up.
“What you play with and what you play with in teams, when people go against you, you just find it acceptable to do that.
“So that was almost like the role I was encouraged to take on. And that’s probably something that I think I would definitely speak out and change in my career.”
Warner also spoke out against the leadership ban he received following the 2018 sandpaper scandal, which prevented him from captaining his country but allowing him to coach.
‘What is the difference between being captain and coaching? As a coach you have more responsibility, don’t you think?’ Warner said.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure, I don’t know how to answer. It’s been five years and I still don’t know how to answer the question. It’s just something that’s hard for me to get a handle on.
Warner says the leadership ban imposed on him after Sandpapergate is confusing
‘Apparently I can coach if that is allowed in Australia. But I can’t be captain. So yeah, I’m not sure what it is.
‘It is under contract with Australia. It’s a leadership position, so I’m not sure, I just don’t know, very bizarre.”
Warner is expected to reveal his version of the scandal’s events in a tell-all autobiography in the near future.