Its not the scandal that will bring you down, its how you handle it.
And, if any of the three players involved in the ball-tampering fiasco in Cape Town were to be brought down, Dave Warner was the short-priced favourite.
But a head down, bum up attitude has saved him. Coupled with a large dose of humility and a new-found maturity.
Tons of fun: David Warner celebrates a century against Bangladesh at the World CupCredit:AP
Warner had been an angry ant since he burst onto the international scene in a Twenty20 International at the MCG in January 2009. He was 22 and lit the nation up with 89 off 43 balls against South Africa.
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It was during the summer holidays and the relaxed eyes of a nation saw it, and loved it.
A kid no one had heard of was front-page news.
Twenty20s were still something of a novelty but, in one stunning innings, Warner arrived as a superstar and shot the format to mainstream prominence in this country.
He viewed himself as an outsider: the ultimate working-class kid from the tough streets of Matraville who scrapped hard for everything he had. He took crap from no one and dished it out in spades.
In the eye of the storm: Dave Warner and his family arrive back in Sydney in the wake of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.Credit:David Moir
When they said he was a one-hit wonder, he proved them wrong. When they said he was just a basher and not suited to Test cricket, he proved them wrong again. He averages 48.2 in 74 Tests, as an opener.
But it all came crashing down in Cape Town and, it could have been the end. Because of their personalities, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith were destined to emerge somewhat intact.
With Warner, the jury was out. Angry and humiliated, he might just take everyone down with him. It was almost expected he would. That method would have finished him off.
The only way to return and salvage his career was to cop it sweet, shut his mouth, play club cricket, kiss babies and travel the globe on the T20 circuit for 12 months. With ho hiccups.
He could not afford to put one step out of line.
Glory daze: Tiger Woods celebrates victory in this year's Masters.Credit:AP
Once he managed that, the big test would come during the World Cup and the Ashes. So far, he has passed with flying colours.
When Australia took on England at Lord's on Tuesday, the boos rang out. He heard them. He grafted a nice 53 under enormous pressure. When one bounced on him, he holed out and walked off.
As he did, he copped it again. But the new Dave Warner wasnt flustered. He smiled as he walked, as if to say: “I know youre booing, I know why youre booing. But thats OK.”
Towards the end of the round-robin phase, hes the tournament's leading run-scorer.
His re-emergence, although in its infancy, mirrors that of Tiger Woods.
Ten years ago, Woods was a humiliated fallen star, his life in tatters, as damaged as the front windscreen of his SUV, which felt the full force of his angry wife brandishing a six iron when she heard of his rampant infidelity with cocktail waitresses and the like from one end of the globe to the other.
Some people haven't forgiven Woods – and never will. But the vast majority have.
Woods rehabilitated himself by committing to his children and his golf, while not putting another step out of line. He gave the National Read More – Source
Its not the scandal that will bring you down, its how you handle it.
And, if any of the three players involved in the ball-tampering fiasco in Cape Town were to be brought down, Dave Warner was the short-priced favourite.
But a head down, bum up attitude has saved him. Coupled with a large dose of humility and a new-found maturity.
Tons of fun: David Warner celebrates a century against Bangladesh at the World CupCredit:AP
Warner had been an angry ant since he burst onto the international scene in a Twenty20 International at the MCG in January 2009. He was 22 and lit the nation up with 89 off 43 balls against South Africa.
Advertisement
It was during the summer holidays and the relaxed eyes of a nation saw it, and loved it.
A kid no one had heard of was front-page news.
Twenty20s were still something of a novelty but, in one stunning innings, Warner arrived as a superstar and shot the format to mainstream prominence in this country.
He viewed himself as an outsider: the ultimate working-class kid from the tough streets of Matraville who scrapped hard for everything he had. He took crap from no one and dished it out in spades.
In the eye of the storm: Dave Warner and his family arrive back in Sydney in the wake of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.Credit:David Moir
When they said he was a one-hit wonder, he proved them wrong. When they said he was just a basher and not suited to Test cricket, he proved them wrong again. He averages 48.2 in 74 Tests, as an opener.
But it all came crashing down in Cape Town and, it could have been the end. Because of their personalities, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith were destined to emerge somewhat intact.
With Warner, the jury was out. Angry and humiliated, he might just take everyone down with him. It was almost expected he would. That method would have finished him off.
The only way to return and salvage his career was to cop it sweet, shut his mouth, play club cricket, kiss babies and travel the globe on the T20 circuit for 12 months. With ho hiccups.
He could not afford to put one step out of line.
Glory daze: Tiger Woods celebrates victory in this year's Masters.Credit:AP
Once he managed that, the big test would come during the World Cup and the Ashes. So far, he has passed with flying colours.
When Australia took on England at Lord's on Tuesday, the boos rang out. He heard them. He grafted a nice 53 under enormous pressure. When one bounced on him, he holed out and walked off.
As he did, he copped it again. But the new Dave Warner wasnt flustered. He smiled as he walked, as if to say: “I know youre booing, I know why youre booing. But thats OK.”
Towards the end of the round-robin phase, hes the tournament's leading run-scorer.
His re-emergence, although in its infancy, mirrors that of Tiger Woods.
Ten years ago, Woods was a humiliated fallen star, his life in tatters, as damaged as the front windscreen of his SUV, which felt the full force of his angry wife brandishing a six iron when she heard of his rampant infidelity with cocktail waitresses and the like from one end of the globe to the other.
Some people haven't forgiven Woods – and never will. But the vast majority have.
Woods rehabilitated himself by committing to his children and his golf, while not putting another step out of line. He gave the National Read More – Source
