Warner makes competitive cricket return on Australian soil in Darwin hit-out
David Warner is a long way from the packed houses of the MCG on Boxing Day or an Ashes Test at Lords.
In front of barely 100 people, the 31-year-old made his return to cricket in Australia in Darwin, after almost four months away from Australian pitches.
The New South Welshman took the field for the Darwin Strike League team the City Cyclones, taking up his familiar posts of slips fieldsman and opening batsman.
A quickfire 36 briefly entertained the small crowd, who came to see one of cricket's most divisive figures.
"I actually felt really good, good wicket out there and it's good to be playing back on Australian soil," he said.
"No nerves at all … to be playing up here in the Top End is fantastic, just to get back in the groove."
The ball tampering incident in South Africa was arguably the biggest scandal in Australian cricket and thrust Warner, captain Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft into eternal infamy.
Now all three are on the road to public forgiveness. Smith has been travelling around North America and joined Warner at a hit-and-giggle T20 competition in Canada.
Bancroft, whose sand paper-rubbing exploits will be one of Australian cricket's lasting images, has been playing in Darwin since the start of July, quietly trying to regain his touch as he takes in the Top End's dry season.
Time away actually helpful, says Warner
Warner has used the time away from the game to reflect on his life in the world of international cricket and his future.
"We live in a bubble. It's quite difficult at times and you don't realise until it's taken away from you there's a lot more to life than just cricket," he said.
"If I didn't love it I wouldn't be here. I'd retire.
"I'm excited [over the next eight months] to reflect upon what's happened and to be a better person and a better leader.
"The last six years I've been on the road 300 days of the year consistently.
"It can kill you at times, it's mentally tough, it's challenging, so things happen for a reason and this is probably the break I needed to prolong my career."
Warner has taken the brunt of the public's anger but he insists it hasn't affected him.
"I try and shut it all out I try and move forward I don't listen to any of the negativity," he said.
He says he will ply his trade in the Caribbean T20 league and the lucrative Indian Premier League, but he makes no secret of his burning desire to return to the Test arena.
"I'll be putting my hand up as much as I can and this is just a little stepping stone to keep continuing my progress to keep my hand up and enabling myself to make runs for every team that I play for."
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ABC .net
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