Warner hints at MoU dispute for severe ban

Australia opener David Warner has hinted that his year-long ban after the infamous ‘sandpaper-gate’ in Cape Town, South Africa in 2018 was not just because of ball tampering, but because of their previous disputes with Cricket Australia over Memorandum of Understanding.

Warner, who was the vice-captain of the Australia team back then, along with captain Steve Smith, was banned for a year. Along with their ban on playing, they were reportedly permanently banned from leading the Aussies again.

But Smith returned to the leadership fore as he was appointed vice-captain to Pat Cummins in Tests, and even led the side in a match in the pacer’s absence.

Warner is now in contention for the captaincy in One-Day Internationals after Aaron Finch retired from the format, but issues remain over his captaincy ban.

But issues lead deeper as the left-handed opener suggested that his strong stance during the Memorandum of Understanding dispute of 2017, which was over protracted pay, had something to do with the ban on him.

“Unfortunately a lot of the events before 2018 were with the board – the MoU stuff and all that. Things got over and above in terms of more than just Cape Town. There was more to it.

“I think that’s where my decision – the penalty that was handed down – was more of stuff that was happening before that,” the 35-year-old said at the Kayo summer of cricket launch on Tuesday.

But Warner is now happy to have discussions with CA over returning in a captaincy role.

“I think at the end of the day it’s about what questions they (the CA board) want to ask me. That’s where the conversation starts and then we can lead from there. It’s almost a completely new board from when 2018 happened. I would be interested to see and hear what their thoughts are,” the left-handed batsman said.

Former Australia ODI captain Finch had also asked CA to overturn the ban on Warner.

“I think CA are revisiting what that looks like. He’s (Warner) an unbelievable tactical captain and someone who, at the time, everyone loved playing under. But I’m not sure what CA’s position is on it. Would I like to see it overturned? Absolutely,” Finch had said in an interview with Triple M.