Australia batsman David Warner sanctioned yet again after he skips grade match to go to the races

All New South Wales players are required to play for their grade clubs when fit, with Warner being handed a one-match suspended sentence

Agency
Tuesday 08 October 2013 10:12 BST
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David Warner
David Warner (Getty)

Australia batsman David Warner has been handed a one-match suspended sentence from Cricket New South Wales after missing a grade match to go to the races.

Warner was scheduled to line up for Randwick Petersham on the second day of their two-day match against Northern Districts, but instead spent the day at Royal Randwick racecourse for Epsom Day.

All New South Wales players are required to play for their grade clubs when available and fully fit.

The sanction continues a miserable year for Warner who found himself embroiled in controversy on Australia's summer tour of England.

The 26-year-old was suspended from Australia's two tour matches that preceded The Ashes series, as well as a Champions Trophy clash, for punching English batsman Joe Root in a nightclub incident.

The suspension deprived Warner of any chance of getting much-needed batting practice ahead of The Ashes which led to him also sitting out the first two Tests against England.

And when Warner finally won his spot back, he could only manage 138 runs at an average of 23 in the final three Ashes battles.

Warner's woes didn't stop there, though, as the 26-year-old was dropped from Australia's one-day squad for the five-match series against England in September.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann cited Warner's lack of form in the 50-over arena as the reason for his omission and Lehmann urged the fiery opener to head back to state level and make enough runs to be considered again.

But Warner's ambitions for a recall have hit a serious snag with scores of only four and zero next to his name from his first two outings with the Blues in the Ryobi Cup so far.

PA

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