Sydney Thunder’s marquee man David Warner earned roughly $80,000 for a second-ball duck in Sunday’s Big Bash match against the Hobart Hurricanes before shoving Australian teammate Matthew Wade in an incident that could land the pair in hot water.
Warner missed out with the bat for the second match in a row as fast bowler Riley Meredith clean bowled the three-format star with a sensational in-swinger before the Hurricanes cruised to a five-wicket win in Hobart.
The Thunder were bowled out for 135 before Tim David’s wonderful innings of 76 not out from 41 balls helped the Hurricanes mow down the target with 23 balls to spare.
Hobart paceman Nathan Ellis was named player of the match after taking a hat-trick and finishing with figures of 4-27 from four overs.
According to sources close to Warner, who spoke anonymously because of the nature of the details, the opener’s lucrative short-term contract with the Thunder is worth approximately $400,000, paid by Cricket Australia and the BBL team.
With Warner available for only five matches, his pay packet works out to be $80,000 for each game, although he may have to pay some of that back if the match referee gets involved.
David Warner is bowled for a duck on Sunday.Credit:Getty
Thunder captain Chris Green and Wade were involved in a heated verbal exchange during the drinks break of the Hurricanes run chase. Tim David and Warner were nearby and intervened as Wade and Green exchanged words.
Footage played on the broadcast showed Wade approaching Warner afterwards before the latter shoved his Australian teammate. Wade appeared taken aback by the physical altercation and so, too, did the commentators.
“That was inappropriate,” said Fox Cricket commentator Kerry O’Keeffe. “It’s unsavoury. You can’t have contact like that. Whether they were half joking, I don’t know. The body language suggested not.
David Warner shoves Matthew Wade during Sunday’s Big Bash match.Credit:Fox Cricket
“There’s been some feistiness out there. This is an ill-tempered affair now.”
Green and Wade spoke together on Channel Seven after the match and played down their stoush.
“It’s all good,” Green said. “We knew we were under par on a really good wicket and we’re both fierce competitors on the field. [I was] trying to create something out of nothing.
“There’s no issue. If you want to keep digging, there’s nothing there. We both play with feeling on the field. I’ve got no issues with him personally.”
Wade added: “I’m alright. I couldn’t hit him [for runs while batting], that was more my frustration.”
Warner and Wade were pictured speaking after the match and appeared to be in good spirits.
David also gave his version of events.
“We know Wadey loves getting into the contest and being a bit feisty,” David said. “Greeny was winding him up. I was there trying to defuse it and they were going at each other a little.”
Match referee David Johnston may have a different view of the incidents, given players are not allowed to make physical contact on the field. Johnston could hand out fines.
Wade and Warner’s altercation will certainly get people talking about the BBL but not in the way CA would have hoped.
While a significant portion of Warner’s contract includes a marketing component, paid for by CA, his dollar per run ratio will be a talking point after Sunday’s short stay.
After making 19 from 20 balls in the Thunder’s nine wicket loss on Friday evening, there was pressure on Warner to deliver on his mega contract.
David Warner is bowled for a duck on Sunday.Credit:Getty
After knocking his first delivery into the off side, Warner was beaten all ends up by a sensational 140km/h yorker from Meredith
Of course, there is more to T20 cricket than just runs. Warner is excellent in the field and his experience is a huge bonus for the Thunder.
His ability to draw a crowd and improve television broadcast figures were factors in CA’s decision to chip in such a high dollar figure per match.
On a per-game basis, Warner has already made $160,000. Divide that by the 19 runs Warner has made and he’s pocketed $8421 for every run.
On Friday, Warner batted for 37 minutes, while on Sunday he was at the crease for three minutes.
It means Warner has made $4000 a minute while at the crease. It’s an hourly rate of $240,000.
For context, Warner and other Australian stars receive $18,500 match payments for a Test.
