David Warner gets controversial honour after his lifetime ban for cheating was lifted – as he slams one of his teammates

David Warner has vowed to be a mentor for youngsters after returning to his first leadership role in Australian cricket since 2018 thanks to a stunning decision by the Sydney Thunder.

Less than two weeks after his leadership ban was lifted, Warner was officially unveiled as the Thunder’s new Big Bash League captain on Wednesday.

The announcement means 38-year-old Warner will take over the captaincy from Chris Green, for the first full BBL season of his career following his international retirement this year.

Warner had initially faced a lifetime ban from any leadership position in Australian cricket following the ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

A push made to lift that ban in 2022 was ultimately abandoned, before a hearing conducted last month deemed Warner’s ban was no longer necessary.

Both Cricket NSW and Warner himself spoke about a desire for him to assist younger players in last month’s hearing, something he now wants to deliver on at the Thunder.

‘One of the most exciting parts of this role is the chance to give back to the younger players, to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve gathered over the years,’ Warner said.

‘I want to help them grow so that one day, one of these young guns can step up and lead the team when I’m done.

‘We have an incredible group of young players like Ollie Davies, Jason Sangha and Sam Konstas. They’re fearless and have so much potential.

‘My goal is to guide them, help them learn the game, and ultimately give them the tools to thrive both in the BBL and beyond.’

Warner last captained a side in Australian cricket during an international T20 tri-series in early 2018, and was vice-captain of the Test side at the time of the ball-tampering saga.

The leadership ban had since prohibited him from being captain or vice-captain of any national or domestic team.

Former Test quick and Sydney Thunder general manager Trent Copeland had spoken in favour of Warner at last month’s leadership ban review, noting a change in the hard-hitting left-hander since the 2018 saga.

And Copeland said the decision to appoint Warner as captain of the Thunder now gave the veteran a chance to create a new kind of legacy in the sport.

‘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.

‘Appointing David Warner as captain isn’t just about winning, it’s about setting up our young players for success, surrounding them with leadership on and off the field.

‘This captaincy is about more than cricket; it’s about community, legacy, and helping our younger players gain the skills they need to succeed.’

Meanwhile, Warner has pointed out a technical flaw in the batting of his Thunder teammate Cameron Bancroft, suggesting he’d struggle against India if picked this summer.

Bancroft was also banned over the cheating scandal in South Africa. 

‘There’s no air speed at the moment in Shield cricket, and you’re playing at venues that don’t bounce,’ Warner explained.

‘With Cameron Bancroft, his foot’s still out to point. If someone was bowling 145km/h, he’s still going to make the same mistake.

‘In my eyes, it’s about his front foot being pointed out to point. When there’s faster air speed, when the bowlers are bowling faster, he’s going to get rolled through, LBW or he’ll get caught in the slips cordon.

‘He had that trouble when he was playing for Australia.’