David Warner has withdrawn his appeal to lift his lifetime ban from coaching Australian cricket, saying the process would involve a ‘public trial’ of his role in the infamous ball tampering scandal.
The 36-year-old was given the opportunity to appeal after Cricket Australia’s code of conduct changed in November.
Warner’s leadership and 12-month ban from elite cricket began in 2018.
“Some things are more important than cricket,” Warner said.
In a lengthy statement on Instagram, he added: “I’m not ready for my family to be the washing machine for cricket’s dirty laundry.”
The opening batter’s statement comes the day before the start of Australia’s second Test against the West Indies at the Adelaide Ring.
Warner said he was not ready to subject his family and teammates to “further trauma and disruption” caused by the review board wanting to “put on a public show” and “cleanse”.
He says he submitted an application to Cricket Australia (CA) on November 25 saying he wanted to “demonstrate” to the review panel his “profound regret and remorse and that my rehabilitation and transformation is profound”.
CA said he “supported” Warner’s wish “that these discussions be heard behind closed doors”, but was “disappointed with the outcome”.
“Our intention was to give David the opportunity to demonstrate why his lifetime ban from directing should be changed at an independent hearing and we have changed our code of conduct accordingly,” CA added.
“David is a very experienced and much-loved member of the Australian squad who has been a great ambassador for the game as a whole since returning from a one-year ban.”
Following Aaron Finch’s resignation as Australia’s one-day international captain, calls have been made for former vice-captain Warner to fill the vacancy.
Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins was named Finch’s successor in October but said he would be willing to share the ODI captaincy to ease his burden.
Former test captain Steve Smith was also banned to play for a year and leadership roles for three years after the scandal and will lead Australia against West Indies because Cummins is injured.
