- Randwick Council wants to honor cricketer David Warner
- Motion carried to name the indoor center in Maroubra after batsman
- The development has left locals in Randwick LGA divided on social media
- Warner, 37, grew up in nearby Matraville in Sydney’s east
A local council in Sydney is keen to pay tribute to the Test career of retired Australian opening batsman David Warner – and the move has left cricket fans divided.
Randwick City Council – the local government area (LGA) where Warner spent his junior days developing his technique – has tabled a motion to name a new indoor cricket center at Maroubra’s Snape Park after the 37-year-old.
At the first proposal for a cricket venue in the area to be named after Warner, the council stated: ‘What better way to celebrate a local legend from Randwick City? We all know David Warner as the legendary Test cricketer, but did you know he’s also a Matraville boy?
‘After attending Matraville Public School and Randwick Boys High, David became the fifth highest points scorer in Australian Test history and has the second highest ever Australian individual score.
‘It was a boy from Matraville who did well.’
A local council in Sydney plans to pay tribute to the Test career of retired Australian opening batsman David Warner – and the move has left cricket fans divided
Warner grew up in Matraville and still lives with his family in Sydney’s east (pictured)
Councilman Daniel Rosenfeld, who supported the motion, said this Yahoo Sports an original plan to name the nearby Heffron Park nets was considered – before Warner was personally consulted about the indoor cricket centre.
“There have been discussions with David about this and the move (to Snape Park) will take into account David’s playing history with the juniors,” Rosenfeld said.
“I think it is appropriate to name such a facility after David as he grew up in our region and achieved great things for the Australian cricket team over a long period of time.”
News of Randwick Council’s permanent tribute to Warner provoked mixed reactions on social media.
“That whole park should be called David Warner Oval… what a ripper cricketer,” said one fan on the website Council Facebook page.
But another countered: ‘Bad move Randwick City Council, there are many more deserving members of the community to name things after.’
A third posted: ‘No, he’s a disgrace to Australian sport, (a) proven cheat.’
In a decorated Test career, Warner plundered 8786 runs between 2011 and 2024 to finish ahead of other openers Matthew Hayden (8626), Mark Taylor (7525) and Michael Slater (5312).
Warner will end his international career at the T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies in June.