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David Warner ‘planning explosive tell-all chat on cricket scandal’

Apr 03, 2018

David Warner made a tearful apology to Australia and his family. Source: Getty.

Disgraced cricketer David Warner came under fire just days ago when he avoided difficult questions from reporters over the ball tampering scandal, while making a tearful apology for his actions.

The former vice captain, 31, admitted he has resigned himself to the fact he may never play cricket for his country again, before issuing a moving apology to his wife and children in Sydney on Saturday.

However, despite the emotional few minutes, he then avoided answering a series of questions from reporters. When one asked whose idea it was in the first place, Warner failed to answer and walked out of the room, despite a Cricket Australia investigation naming him as the mastermind of the plan to cheat against South Africa.

Now it’s claimed he could actually be keeping his answers for a tell-all interview. Veteran journalist David Penberthy told Adelaide radio station FIVEaa he had heard from “senior media and PR circles in Sydney” that Warner’s team are planning a big chat with a commercial station, as he’s likely to be out of pocket following his 12-month cricket ban.

“It’s worth noting that he had the high profile Sydney PR woman Roxy Jacenko with him on the day sitting with his wife Candice at the press conference,” Penberthy told the show. “One of the reasons apparently that Warner didn’t answer so many questions is that he’s keeping his powder dry for a tell all interview – part of the strategy that is being spearheaded by Roxy Jacenko.

“He’s taken a six million dollar hit in terms of his earnings. He can recoup at least a million of that from the Nine network or Seven network. That’s apparently why he’s keeping his mouth shut when he’s being asked obvious questions.”

Jacenko has since slammed claims she is the Warner family’s PR, and insisted she only attended the press conference as a “friend” to Warner’s wife Candice.

“Candice is a dear friend, thus my support, but I am not their PR,” she told The Australian.

The publication reports they have instead engaged former Today Tonight reporter Andrew Bourk to advise them on PR decisions. He has plenty of experience organising high-profile television exclusives. According to the publication, he engineered the 2007 interview with Schapelle Corby’s former friend Jodie Power, who accused Corby’s sister Mercedes of involvement in the drugs trade.

It comes after the Australian Cricketers’ Association’s president, Greg Dyer, called for an inquiry into the year-long bans handed out to Warner and former captain Steve Smith, along with a nine-month ban for player Cameron Bancroft.

The @ACA_Players throwing their support behind banned cricketers. They say the bans are too excessive. #SAvAUS #7News https://t.co/0Smb5yDFM2

— 7NEWS Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) April 3, 2018

“Justice which is rushed can sometimes be flawed, therefore players have every right to consider their position, take appropriate advice, and the necessary time in doing so,” he said in a press conference – noting past punishments haven’t been as harsh for similar scandals.

“As right as the motivation is, the proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent,” he added, while noting the “extraordinary contrition” of the players, which brought tears to his own eyes during their apology speeches.

“We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction. To consider allowing the players to return to domestic cricket earlier, for example, as part of their rehabilitation.”

Warner’s legal team is now requesting specific evidence before deciding whether or not to appeal the penalties placed upon him by Cricket Australia, Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Warner, Smith and Bancroft have until Thursday to decide whether or not to appeal their penalties, and it’s claimed Warner’s team are asking for interview transcripts, as he is the most likely to appeal the bans out of the trio.

A prospective hearing date has been set for April 11 by Cricket Australia, Sydney Morning Herald said.

All three players issued emotional press conferences on their return to Australia and have apologised and accepted responsibility for their parts in the ball-tampering scandal.