David Warner open to have discussions with CA to get lifetime captaincy ban overturned

In
the
aftermath
of
the
2018
ball-tampering
scandal
in
South
Africa,
former
skipper
Steve
Smith
was
stripped
of
the
captaincy
and
banned
from
leading
Australia
for
two
years,
while
Warner
was
handed
a
more
severe
punishment
–
a
lifelong
leadership
ban.

However,
several
former
and
current
players,
including
Test
skipper
Pat
Cummins,
have
called
for
Warner’s
life
ban
to
end.

“That
hasn’t
really
been
brought
to
the
table,”
Warner
was
quoted
saying
by
ESPNCricinfo.

“As
I’ve
said
plenty
of
times
off
the
record,
it’s
upon
the
board
to
reach
out
to
me
and
open
their
doors.
Then
I
can
sit
down
and
have
an
honest
conversation
with
them,”
he
added.

Warner,
Smith
and
batter
Cameron
Bancroft
were
banned
from
playing
domestic
or
international
cricket
as
punishment
for
their
roles
in
the
infamous
ball-tampering
scandal.

Warner
and
then
captain
Smith
had
been
banned
for
one
year,
while
Bancroft
was
suspended
for
nine
months.

The
35-year-old
Warner
will
feature
in
the
Big
Bash
League
(BBL)
for
the
first
time
since
2013
after
signing
a
two-year
deal
with
the
Sydney
Thunder.

The
captaincy
spot
is
open
at
Sydney
Thunder
after
their
former
skipper
Usman
Khawaja
moved
to
Brisbane
Heat.
However,
Warner
said
he
can
be
leader
without
having
the
title.

“I’ve
got
the
experience,
I’m
a
leader
in
the
side
anyway
without
having
a
title,”
he
said.

“That’s
what
I’m
about,
giving
back,
so
if
they
(younger
players)
can
pick
my
brains
in
any
way,
my
phone
is
always
there,
they
have
my
number,
and
they
can
see
me
when
I’m
at
the
practice
facilities,”
he
said.