Would Australia forgive David Warner?

A distraught David Warner issued a public apology for his role in the ball-tampering scandal which broke out on Saturday and said that he was resigned to the fact that he would not be able to play for his country again after serving 12-month bans.

Warner, 31 spoke in a press conference, “I can honestly say I have always wanted to bring glory for my nation through playing cricket.”

In an emotional press conference, the former vice-captain struggled to hold back his tears while reading the statement in which he called his actions ‘inexcusable’.

“There’s a tiny ray of hope that I may again get the privilege to represent my country again, but I am resigned to the fact that may happen again,” Warner asserted.

Watch LIVE: David Warner speaks to the media in Sydney https://t.co/Psybip9QLZ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 31, 2018

CA’s harsh stance on Warner:

Cricket Australia identified the Aussie batsman as the chief plotter of the ball-tampering incident in Capetown after the investigation.

“David Warner would not be considered for team leadership position in the future,” CA said in its statement.

Popular brands like LG and ASICS have dumped the cricketer and he has also lost his IPL contract in the aftermath of the incident.

Popular commentator Harsha Bhogle has raised the question speculating if there is more to the story that has been disclosed so far.

If David Warner is resigned to the fact that he may never play for Australia again, has he, in effect, been given a lifetime ban? If it is indeed so, there is a story I am waiting to hear because that can't be about this incident alone.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 31, 2018

His past record of being the enfant terrible has worsened the situation for Warner. During the Durban Test this month, a CCTV showed clips of an altercation between Warner and South African batsman Quinton de Kock. He has been embroiled in similar controversies earlier as well.

Warner faces the brunt of Australian media:

While the earlier press conferences of Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft and Darren Lehman managed to evoke the emotions of the Australian public, Warner’s press conference has received the backlash of the Australian media.

Also Read: Ball-tampering: Cricket’s hall of shame

He is being accused of simply reading the staged script, stonewalling the questions and not responding to the questions.

However, Warner has posted a series of tweets where he has said that needed to follow CA’s procedure.

1/3 I know there are unanswered questions and lots of them. I completely understand. In time i will do my best to answer them all. But there is a formal CA process to follow.

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 31, 2018

2/3 I am taking advice to make sure I properly comply with that process and answer all questions in the proper place and at the proper time.

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 31, 2018

3/3 I should have mentioned that in my press conference I’m sorry for not making it clearer. With so much at stake for my family and cricket I have to follow this process properly. I think that’s fair.

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 31, 2018

Let honesty wipe out the blot:

Eminent cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Shane Warne have appealed the public not to go too harsh on them and give them some space.

They are regretting and hurting and will have to live with the consequences of their act. Spare a thought for their families as they have much to endure along with the players. Time for all of us to take a step back and give them some space.

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 29, 2018

This is disgraceful ! @stevesmith49 is not a criminal !!!!! pic.twitter.com/b2SsfakARo

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 28, 2018

I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal pic.twitter.com/xOxAM45QXM

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018