Warner to lead Syndey Thunder as leadership ban overturned

David Warner will lead Sydney Thunder in the 2024/25 season of the Big Bash League (BBL) starting December 15 after his leadership ban was overturned last month.

Warner was suspended from holding any leadership role in the Cricket Australia ecosystem after his involvement in the Sandpaper Gate during the Newlands Test in 2018. Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct Commission lifted the ban last month, opening the possibility for Warner to become Thunder’s skipper. Furthermore, the left-hander retired from international cricket after the New Year’s Test this year which has made him available for a full BBL season for the first time. 

"Quite clearly that was the last piece of that puzzle for me, and now it's about coming out and sharing my knowledge of the game," Warner said about his leadership ban getting overturned.

"Forever, that was probably going to be on my CV as well. You don't want to look back when you go for a job interview and have 'banned for life from a leadership perspective' on your CV. That's something that I'll be able to now share with my girls moving forward that I'm able to actually be a leader,” he added further. 

There was a likelihood of Warner becoming Australia’s ODI captain when the spot was vacated by Aaron Finch’s retirement in 2022. However, his attempt at getting the ban overturned ended up being futile, and the left-hander reckoned his last chance was gone.

"I think two years ago that was probably me done," he said. "I thought I probably wouldn't revisit that. I didn't even know if I was going to come back and play Big Bash.

"I was at that stage playing a Test match series [in 2022], it could have easily been done prior to the series started but that's why I withdrew it and I wanted to revisit that now. It's all done and dusted. I'm not playing for the Australian cricket team anymore and we don't have to put the team in the spotlight,” Warner said. 

Warner has played only 11 T20s for Thunder since the league’s inception in December 2011. He has captained them once, on his Thunder debut in 2011, when he scored a match-winning 102* against Melbourne Stars. Since then, he has mostly been unavailable for the BBL due to his commitment to Australia. 

He will now be replacing Chris Green as captain, under whom the team finished last season with a wooden spoon. 

"I want to compliment the way Greeny led from the front," Warner said. "He's an exceptional talent with fantastic leadership qualities. Jason Sangha, too, before his injury. I gained great insight from both, and I know they're guys I can lean on this season."

The review panel that lifted the ban mentioned: “The respectful and contrite tone of his [Warner's] responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct."

Trent Copeland, former Australian pacer and the Thunder general manager, also played a part in the appeal process and stated that his return to the club as captain is a special moment for the fans. 

"This is a huge moment for David and for our club," Copeland said. "It's not only about his career, it's about the legacy he's creating, especially for his family and the next generation of players.

"For the fans in Western Sydney who've long recognized David as a Thunder legend, it's a special moment to now see him as their captain. This captaincy is about more than cricket; it's about community, legacy, and helping our younger players gain the skills they need to succeed,” the general manager said. 

Thunder start their BBL 2024/25 campaign in the third match of the season — against Adelaide Strikers on December 17 in Canberra. 

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