'My girls want to see dad play there' - David Warner opens up on BBL return

The flamboyant Australian opener David Warner will be making his return to Big Bash League after nine long years. Warner signed a two-year contract with Sydney Thunder, a franchise he featured for in the first and third editions of the tournament. The 35-year-old, however, will feature only in the final five league matches as the initial part of the tournament will clash with the much-awaited South Africa series.

Warner was previously linked with the UAE T20 League. However, the Aussie clarified that his daughters wanted to see him play in the Big Bash. He also expressed his excitement to return to the same franchise where it all began.

“My ‘girls’ have told me that they’d love to watch me play at home and in the BBL. It will be great for us to be a part of the BBL as a family, and it is something that I am really looking forward to sharing with them,” he said.

“They have never seen me play in the Big Bash, and I am all about family, and the Big Bash is now all about family. Now my girls are well and truly interested in playing the game, and they want to see dad play in the Big Bash,” he added.

With Warner joining a Big Bash side, it only leaves Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Cameron Green as the only centrally contracted cricketers without a franchise.

David Warner aims to leave a legacy for future generation

At 35, Warner is certain that he is at the back-end of his career, and he said that it is another reason why he wants to play in the BBL and eventually inspire young Australians to follow the footsteps of the senior players.

“Franchise cricket teams do come hard at you, but at the end of the day, it’s upon myself to give back and make sure that our next generation is following in my footsteps and the rest of the (Australian) guys,” said Warner.

“I know that Cricket Australia and all the other players and the future generation will benefit from me playing. I’m almost at the back end of my career, I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, so for me, it’s important to give back for the future of our game. For me, it is about making sure that our next generation of players are coming through the right path – that is through playing cricket for Australia, Test cricket is the pinnacle and I want kids to aspire to play Test cricket,” he added.