David Warner’s remarkable comeback to the sport
Recovered from the tough time by getting slapped by Cricket Australia with 12-month suspensions, which expired last week, for the Cape Town scandal that has been pinned primarily on David Warner, Warner has taken IPL 2019 by storm. Warner’s innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore was everything the cricketing world has come to love about his batting and then some more. He started off briskly, then settled down to play the role of an anchor and finally, blazed away as only he can to reach his century. It helps SRH in a big way that Warner has struck a great partnership with Jonny Bairstow. The duo had scored two consecutive century partnerships coming into the game and they added another one to that tally against RCB.
“The 12 months has done me well, I’m nice and refreshed. What a terrific innings here by Jonny, and a fantastic partnership by both of us.”Warner said after the end of the first innings.
The 12 Months
As the major blame for the ball-tampering incident was put on Warner, it would have been toughest for him, and now he is showing that he had lost none of his marauding form by playing this kind of cricket. The incident would have taken a huge mental toll on him. Still, he has grabbed all the eyeballs and made the SRH fans proud. He looks comfortable against pace and spin and there is simply no sign of rust.
Warner said that his one-year suspension for ball-tampering allowed him to “grow as a human being” and spend more time with family.
“Life has been good for me. I have been spending time with the family. I wouldn’t be able to do that if I wasn’t sitting in the sidelines,”
During this period he also played grade cricket, where he sometimes received a hostile reception from opponents.
For now, the IPL is where Warner’s focus is. The most prolific overseas batsman in the tournament’s history has started off from where he left off in 2017 and just seems hungrier, more determined than he normally is.
World Cup
For Australia, Warner’s form means that they will almost instantly become contenders for the World Cup. Their bowling was never a problem but the presence of Warner and Steve Smith will shore up their batting in a big way. Even without Warner, they were competitive against India in the recent ODI series but add the left-hander to the mix and they suddenly look capable of defending their title.
Much debate has centred on how Australia will fit Steve Smith and David Warner – both available again after 12-month bans for their roles in last year’s ball-tampering scandal – into a batting line-up that fired consistently against India and Pakistan. The prospective return of both has been complicated by elbow injuries with Smith’s more serious problem requiring major surgery and likely to sideline him right up to the expiration of his ban.
Coach Justin Langer, who will prepare the sides, said the timing of their international returns would depend both on the injuries and also on how much cricket they were able to play.
He said “They’re going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. It’s all part of the management. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Warner is strengthening his claim for a place in Australia’s World Cup squad by cranking out the runs in the Indian Premier League.
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