'He's disappointed and frustrated' - Michael Clarke slams Cricket Australia amid David Warner captaincy row

'He's disappointed and frustrated' - Michael Clarke slams Cricket Australia amid David Warner captaincy row (Image Source: Twitter)

David Warner, the Australian batter, is one of the best openers that the country has ever seen, more so, for his ability to contribute across all three formats. However, things changed for the southpaw during the ‘Sandpapergate Scandal’ that shook the entire country when Australia toured South Africa in 2018.

Eventually, Steve Smith apologised for the same, while David Warner, on the other hand, admitted to his role in the incident. There was a leadership ban on all of the three players involved, the third one being Cameron Bancroft. Of late, Warner claimed that he would appeal to Cricket Australia (CA) to review his leadership ban and expressed his desire to lead the Kangaroos yet again.

Much to the blues of the Australian fans, Warner came up with a shocking revelation when informing of his decision to withdraw the appeal on December 7, Wednesday. Saying that his family was being made ‘the washing machine for cricket’s dirty laundry’, Warner firmly put forth his opinion to put his family over cricket. “I have served and been subject to a crushing, unprecedented, penalty that has horribly impacted me and my family for the past nearly five years without the prospect of any relief until now,” Warner was quoted as saying in the statement.

You can tell he’s disappointed and frustrated: Michael Clarke

Taking cognizance of the same, the former Australian captain Michael Clarke, said that Warner was being made the scapegoat of the entire scandal, while others were allowed to get back to normalcy. Claiming that it was unfair to Warner, Clarke backed his teammate and hoped for the best.

“You can tell he’s disappointed and frustrated. I think the other thing that probably hurts a little bit more is the fact Steve Smith is going to captain this Test match. I can understand Davey’s disappointment. In regards to where Davey is with his age, he’s unfortunately missed out on the captaincy opportunity in my opinion,” Clarke was quoted as saying in Big Sports Breakfast.

“I don’t think that’s the concern, it’s the fact it’s taken so long to process this or to get to where it’s at. I see it as very inconsistent. I find it very hard to believe it’s okay for one but not okay for the other to have a leadership role. If CA decided all the guys involved in what went down in South Africa, none of them were going to play a leadership role, I think that’s a fair call,” said the former Australian captain further.

“But if it’s okay for one, if it’s okay for Smithy, it’s got to be ok for (Cameron) Bancroft and it’s got to be okay for Warner. I don’t know if it’s fair to make David Warner the complete scapegoat and say everyone else can go back to normal. We’ll forgive you but we won’t forgive Davey,” he added.