Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

David Warner won't return to BBL during Australia career

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Sunday, 22 November 2020 19:22

Dilemmas facing cricket administrators in Australia and around the world have been underlined by David Warner's confirmation that he won't take part in the BBL for the remainder of his international career, while also expressing doubts about any player with a family committing to another 12 months of bio-secure bubbles and quarantines in the time of Covid-19.

When the BBL began, Warner was touted as one of its major selling points, but after his international career took off in that same season, he has been entirely absent from the tournament for the past seven years. Rather than prevaricating about the issue, Warner showed welcome frankness in declaring he would not take part in the event so long as he is playing for Australia, instead valuing some rare summer days with his wife Candice and their three children amidst an otherwise unrelenting schedule.

At the same time, Warner expressed the view that new rule changes to the BBL for its 10th season were tinkering at the edges of the main problem for the league, which revolved largely around its inability to get the best players taking part more often.

ALSO READ: Adam Voges - Fourteen-game BBL season 'too long'

"I think the most important thing is if you can get the Australian players and the best international players coming out to play in that, that would probably fix that sort of issue with what they're trying to tinker with the rules," Warner said. "The rules that have come out, I understand the reasoning why they're bringing it out. Do we need to tinker with it? Personally I don't think we do, I think it's just about getting the right people to come out and play, the right access to players to play, the Australian contracted players.

"It's difficult for us players to play all three forms, even if there is a window, you've got to have that break, because you're going full tilt into summer as well, there's no off-season for us. Personally I've got three kids at home and a wife that I owe my time to as well. So playing all three forms that's very difficult to be able to do that, and I don't think I'll play while I'm playing for Australia still - that's honestly speaking.

"Going back to those rules, they've been put in place for a reason to create a bit more engagement. When you lose three wickets in Powerplays, which happened quite significantly the last couple of years, the game's pretty much dead, especially when you're chasing 200. So if you can sort of have that extra Powerplay at the end, that sub, vice versa, it can make a difference - we'll have to wait and see. But first and foremost, I think it's getting the best players to play, and at this present time in the scheduling, it's very difficult to do that."

Australia's senior fast bowler Mitchell Starc has already expressed doubts about the sustainability of the current merry-go-round of quarantine periods and bubbles in which players are confined to hotels without access to family and then the repeat of the cycle for another series. While this summer's arrangements will be somewhat less stringent in Australia due to low Covid-19 case numbers, the prospect of further restrictions related to travel to South Africa, England and the Caribbean in 2021 have left Warner and others asking plenty of questions.

"To answer your question honestly, it's going to be very difficult to be able to do that," Warner said. "This last six months has been quite challenging in itself, getting used to these bubbles and trying to get used to not having the family with me. They're things that each player has different circumstances and even Starcy's a unique one with his wife playing as well. We're just not going to get that time to see our family.

"I wouldn't ever put them in that situation where they have to do 14 days quarantine at home. The next 12 months is very difficult when you look at the calendar, there's going to be definitely times where you can come home and have time with your family, but yet again you've got that 14 days that's in place that you're going to have to do beforehand, so that almost puts it out of the conversation.

"That's going to be something we're going to have to speak to the coaches and selectors about, because each individual's going to have to put their hand up and be brave and say it's going to be very difficult."

In terms of the longer term calendar, Warner said Australia's players have already been speaking for some time about a differing format focus depending on the proximity of World Cups. Therefore, the white-ball squad for the current series against India has something more of a T20 focus given the next T20 World Cups are scheduled for 2021 and 2022, before the next ODI edition of the global event is not until 2023.

"That's something that we have identified as players and coaching staff already," Warner said. "I think you look at our one-day and T20 team, what we are picking is pretty relevant to what we're going to face with the next couple of World Cups. For us it's about if we're going to take time off, it will be between those series. Obviously the preference is playing those World Cups and making sure we're gearing up in the right way to perform in those tournaments."

Read 219 times

Soccer

PSG clinch Ligue 1 title for 10th time in 13 years

PSG clinch Ligue 1 title for 10th time in 13 years

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsParis Saint-Germain have clinched the Ligue 1 title after AS Monaco...

Thousands line streets for Inter Milan title parade

Thousands line streets for Inter Milan title parade

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThousands of fans lined the streets on Sunday as Inter Milan parade...

Haaland on target as Man City overcome Forest, continue push for title

Haaland on target as Man City overcome Forest, continue push for title

Manchester City took another step in their bid to win a fourth consecutive Premier League title with...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Kawhi (knee) out for G4, no timetable for return

Kawhi (knee) out for G4, no timetable for return

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKawhi Leonard is out for Game 4 of the LA Clippers' first-round ser...

Bucks to be without Giannis, Lillard for Game 4

Bucks to be without Giannis, Lillard for Game 4

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMilwaukee Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have...

Baseball

Inside job: Langford rushes home for 1st MLB HR

Inside job: Langford rushes home for 1st MLB HR

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Wyatt Langford's first big league homer was a m...

Marlins OF Garcia put on IL with hamstring injury

Marlins OF Garcia put on IL with hamstring injury

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Miami Marlins placed right fielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated