David Warner has gone from fairytale finish to SCG rockstar in the space of a week, arriving at the ground for the BBL’s Sydney Smash in a helicopter.
Warner touched down on the famous ground just before 5pm on Friday, making the dash from his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley to play in the sold-out clash.
The retired Test opener spent close to 45 minutes in the air, before landing in front of the members’ stand before a crowd of around 300 ground and Cricket NSW staff.
Warner jovially raised his arms aloft as he mimicked a rock star, before conducting an interview with former Test opener Greg Blewett. “It was good, it was quite cool,” Warner told Blewett on Seven. “To see Sydney from up above on a cracking day was amazing. It was amazing to see my brother wed with his wife Emily. It was a great evening.
“I’ve done my utmost best to get down here and hopefully put some runs on the board. “I might look like a bit of a goose if I don’t get any runs but it’s my contribution to not just the BBL but Australian cricket. “I want to be out here. I want to entertain. I want to try and help our team win the next three games.”
The 37-year-old timed his flight to have enough time to prepare to play his first BBL game of the season for the Sydney Thunder against arch-rivals the Sixers from 7.15pm.
Warner’s arrival came six days after he finished his Test career at the SCG, bowing out with a half-century in Australia’s fourth-innings chase against Pakistan. While Warner was in the helicopter with wife Candice, Steve Smith was spotted batting in the nets ahead of the clash. Smith will replace Warner as Test opener in Adelaide from Wednesday against South Africa.
Often known as the glamour club, one of the Sixers’ star players Sean Abbott arrived on a hired bicycle moments after Warner touched down. “He is a bit Hollywood isn’t he, it is very Davey,” Abbott had quipped a day earlier. “I got the Lime bike in today and I’ll be doing the same tomorrow night. So I’ll be just riding out the gate there as Davey lands.
“But I’m glad they’re making it happen.