Australia opener David Warner returned to the cricket pitch with vengeance as he struck a century in his first match since the ball-tampering scandal during the tour of South Africa earlier this year, according to reports.
Warner smashed bowlers of the Australia National High Performance squad in a practice T20 match at Brisbane’s Allan Border Oval. He was returning to the field two months after being handed a one-year ban for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal.
Warner, along with former captain Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, were all banned from international cricket after attempting to tamper the ball with sandpaper during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.
Warner scored around 130 runs, including multiple sixes, and batted for the entire session, spectators claimed. “I think he hit like 18 sixes... at least half a dozen went over the grandstand,” a spectator told The Daily Mail. “It looked like he had left the scandal behind and moved on... like he didn’t have a care in the world.”
After the innings, Warner mingled with the opposition and was all smiles, the report said. He was seen walking off the field with a broad grin as he approached a coaching staff member.
Warner will now look forward to playing in the Global T20 tournament in Canada where he has been roped in by Winnipeg Hawks. The tournament, which is set to begin later this month, will witness Smith’s return to cricket as well.
Smith will take to the field as one of Toronto Nationals’ marquee players. A clash between Warner and Smith is clearly on the cards.