Sydney Thunders is furious that Cricket Australia has refused to release Perth Test hero David Warner for their must-win Big Bash League clash against Brisbane Heat on Tuesday.
Published: Jan 17, 2012, 12:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 17, 2012, 12:06 PM (IST)
Cricket Australia is protecting in-form David Warner for the final Test in Adelaide © Getty Images
Melbourne: Jan 17, 2012
Sydney Thunders is furious that Cricket Australia has refused to release Perth Test hero David Warner for their must-win Big Bash League clash against Brisbane Heat on Tuesday.
Warner struck a magnificent 180 in the third Test in Australia’s crushing an innings and 37-run win over India.
Cricket Australia apparently wants to protect in-form Warner ahead of the final Test in Adelaide.
However, the Cricket Board released Brad Haddin to play for Sydney Sixers to rediscover his form.
Sydney Thunder’s star recruit Chris Gayle said that BBL needs players such as Warner.
“If you want the Big Bash to get even bigger and better you need those sort of guys. You can monitor the fast bowlers but the batters, if they are available, why not play them? That will actually bring more spice and more crowds to the game to watch them,” Gayle said.
Thunder general manager John Dyson said their team’s interests were compromised by CA’s decision.
“I think there needs to be a lot more discussion about this in the future between all the interested parties. Obviously the Australian Test management have their interests and we have ours, and we also have their best interests at heart as well, but I really do believe we have missed a couple of opportunities for David to play this year that would have affected neither his focus or his form,” Dyson was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.
Dyson argued that by playing in BBL, Warner will only get better.
“I thought every opportunity for him to play was an opportunity missed by our elite panel and I think David is the sort of player, the more cricket he plays, the better he is, I have seen that when he has played for NSW,” he said. (PTI)
