Cricket Australia is rethinking about lifting David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban on Friday. For Warner to be handed over the captaincy, however, a major change in the Code of Ethics would have to be made.
Warner who was banned from captaincy following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa has shown a desire to lead the white ball team after Aaron Finch announced retirement from the format.
“The view within Cricket Australia is that David is doing particularly well on the field and making a great contribution off the field,” chairman Lachlan Henderson said. “The first step in terms of David’s leadership ban is to review the code and see if those sanctions are able to be reviewed. And the appropriate revisions to that code that would need to be made.”
Henderson has spoken in favour of the code being rewritten if deemed necessary before the selection of a new captain. “Our intention is to review the code as quick as is practical. It’s not in anyone’s interest for us to delay that,” Henderson said. “It would be in time for any future leadership conversations in relation to David.”
Sanctions to be reviewed for good behaviour- Nick Hockley
Changing the code, however, is a massive decision for CA to make. Cricket Australia is wary of any further implications that it could make. CEO Nick Hockley however has spoken in favour of Warner saying that the player had the right to show they had changed.
“In very simple terms, we are looking at sanctions to be reviewed for good behaviour and growth after a period of time,” Hockley said. “Pending tomorrow’s discussion, there would then need to be a revision of the code and that would need to be approved by the board.”
David Warner continues to serve the leadership ban handed to him on 28th March 2018. He was also banned from the game altogether for one year and was asked to perform 100 hours of community service. Since then he has shown an immense change in behaviour and continues to play the game with the highest respect.
