5 Furious Episodes That Define David Warner Quite Like His Dynamite Batting

He has been destructive from the blade. He has been dismissive of his critics and bowlers’ antics. And now he has also felt disconsolation. It might not be the most encouraging feeling to be missing the final and deciding Test at Johannesburg. Perhaps there is more common ground between three loosely related terms and David Warner today than there ever was on any previous occasion.

If the news about Warner and Smith being deported back home wasn’t saddening enough for fans to cope with, here comes another shocker for Team Australia. And definitely, for fans, without mentioning. It is now confirmed that it was none other than vice-captain David Warner- ball hitter, bowler destructor, six-smasher- who had the prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plot.

The rest, as they say, is no mystery. We don’t need to dwell into petulant details about who masterminded it, akin to the classic thriller movie plot concerning a, “whodunit”.

Warner, without doubt happens to be an experienced cricketer, someone on whose shoulders laid lot of hopes and expectations. He’s also been someone who’s played the anchor role in many memorable outcomes for his side. But at the same time, his participation in activities that lay outside the immediate involvement of bat and ball, albeit on the cricket pitch have often seem him become a mouthpiece.

Over the course of the past few years, Warner has struck meaty blows from the bat as also from his fiery mouth. He’s a volatile character, despite being brilliantly talented. So which have been some of the conspiracies that have involved David Warner and have therefore, given his Aussie-ness a bad name?

1. Big Bash League final, 2011

Back in 2011, David Warner was involved in a war of words between Australia and Tasmania fast bowler, Brett Greeves. In an outrage that broke apparently on Twitter saw Warner’s victorious heave off Hilfenhaus for six leading to huge celebrations being reported by the fast bowler as humility having gone wrong. Warner was quick to retort saying he wasn’t sure if any kids followed Greeves’ game and also used some choicest words for him. As a result, the cricket board stepped in and disciplined both the players.

2. Battle with Australian journalists, 2013

2013 would often be a year where T20 cricket would be remembered for being rocked by the spot fixing scandal in the famous franchise installation IPL. This led to the journalists doing their job; reporting on the issue and highlighting aspects to the unceremonious event. Although it wasn’t Warner’s fault that his photo appeared in the article written by Robert Craddock and Malcolm Conn- a link of which was posted on Twitter, he was quick to go the foul-language way. Since he couldn’t have been contacted at the time for he was playing in the IPL, upon returning to Australia, Warner was levied a handsome fine by Cricket Australia.

3. Punching Joe Root, 2013

Perhaps it could be said that the traditional and heated rivalry between Australia and England- renowned for being the sport’s oldest- was taken a bit too seriously when David Warner was involved in a rather shambolic event. The same saw him punch Joe Root on the face. The reason for punching Root was as ridiculous as laced with humour, provided one sees it that way. It was reported that Root was wearing a green wig that he dragged down to his chin. Warner, who saw this took it the other way thinking Root was impersonating Hashim Amla. This was not only bizarre but quite unbelievable. Why would he do that? Even as Clint McKay tried to resolve the issue, the Australian Cricket Board suspended Warner till the completion of the 2013 Ashes and fined him a whopping 7000 GB Pounds.

4. Heated exchange with South Africa A, 2013

For some reason, Warner, who had already been highlighted thrice acting against the spirit of a sportsman, found a new reason to engage in spitfire. This time, he took his temper to a new continent, Africa, an all-new terrain for the bloke. Even more pathetic that the acrimony came in a harmless A game where Warner used not the best words for Thami Tsolekile.

5. Chiding Jonathan Trott, 2013

England and Australia were engaged in an important battle Down Under at the Ashes. Trott, one of England’s mainstays, who was already struggling with form was unable to decode the express pace of Johnson, another fiery customer and stupendous athlete.

As Trott lost his wicket twice to Johnson at the Gabba, Warner remarked, “The way Trotty got out was pretty weak and pretty poor”. Later, as Trott retired from the series on account of suffering a stress-related issue, Warner apologized for his comments. Anyways, they were uncalled for.