David Warner’s new captaincy shows few serve life any more

The fading incidence of ethical behaviour in public life has touched one of our most treasured national myths with the naming of David Warner as captain of Sydney Thunder for the coming Big Bash season.

Six years ago, the Cricket Australia XI, an institution that has existed longer than the nation itself, was exposed as a team of cheats courtesy of Warner, who as vice-captain of the side, was the architect of a notorious ball-tampering scandal.

David Warner was the architect of notorious ball-tampering scandal “Sandpapergate” in 2018. Credit: Nick Moir

In March 2018, at the Newlands ground in Cape Town, South Africa, umpires spoke to young Australian fielder Cameron Bancroft about his actions in rubbing a piece of sandpaper against the ball. Captain Steve Smith and the instigator of the plan, Warner, were stripped of their positions and, along with Bancroft, sent home.

Governing body Cricket Australia banned Smith and Warner from all state and international cricket for a year, Bancroft for nine months and ordered all three to do 100 hours of community service. Smith would not be eligible for any kind of leadership role in the Australian team for another two years and Warner never again.

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