David Warner's captaincy in doubt after drink-driving guilty plea

David Warner’s captaincy of Sydney Thunder – a franchise cricket team in the Big Bash League – is said to be in doubt after the former Australia batting star pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge.

Warner’s lawyer, Bobby Hill, told the Waverley local court on Wednesday that the 39-year-old was admitting to the offence, which occurred on Easter Sunday.

The cricketer did not appear in the court himself.

“The parties are in discussion about the facts,” Hill said.

The drink-driving incident occurred in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on 5 April when Warner returned a positive alcohol reading after being stopped by police. He was taken to the Maroubra police station, where a secondary breath test recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.104, more than twice the legal limit.

Warner’s guilty plea was expected after Hill previously said the cricketer accepted responsibility for his actions.

“He knows what he did was wrong,” Hill said earlier in May. “He accepts that was a reckless decision, a foolish decision to get in his car instead of taking an Uber.”

Hill said that Warner had consumed three glasses of wine at a friend’s apartment before deciding to drive.

“It’s not a crime to have a glass of wine on the day of the Lord’s resurrection. In fact, some would consider that completely appropriate,” he told reporters.

“His crime is, as I said, choosing a foolish plan A instead of a plan B.”

The lawyer said that Warner’s final drink was 11 minutes before he was stopped by police.

Hill added that the player was sorry for his actions and would seek leniency from the court.

His sentence will be handed down on 18 August. He could face a minimum six-month driving ban, a fine of up to A$2,200 (£1,150), and a possible prison term of up to nine months.

His admission of guilt prompted questions about whether Warner would remain as captain of the Sydney Thunder. Cricket NSW, which oversees the team, had said after the player’s arrest it took the matter seriously. “The allegations are of course concerning and we take them very seriously,” Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said. “At Cricket NSW, we are strong advocates for safe driving, not drink-driving.”

Sydney Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers and the NSW Blues, are involved in a government campaign aimed at discouraging drink-driving.

Besides Sydney Thunder, Warner leads the Pakistan Super League side Karachi Kings.

The opener retired from international cricket in 2024 after a career spanning more than a decade. He represented Australia in 383 matches across all formats between 2009 and 2024.

Warner was banned from cricket for 12 months and made ineligible for leadership roles over his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.