Sydney Thunder captain David Warner pleads guilty to drink-driving

SYDNEY: Former Australia opener David Warner's position as Sydney Thunder captain has come under scrutiny after he pleaded guilty to a mid-range drink-driving offence.

Warner did not appear at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, where his lawyer, Bobby Hill, entered the guilty plea relating to an incident on Easter Sunday.

"The parties are in discussion about the facts," Hill told the court.

The 39-year-old returned a positive roadside alcohol test after being stopped by police in Sydney's eastern suburbs on April 5. A subsequent breath analysis at Maroubra Police Station recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.104 — more than double the legal limit.

Hill had previously indicated that Warner intended to plead guilty when the matter was first mentioned in May.

"He knows what he did was wrong," Hill said at the time. "He accepts it was a reckless and foolish decision to get in his car instead of taking an Uber."

According to the lawyer, Warner had consumed three glasses of wine at a friend's apartment before driving and had taken his last drink just 11 minutes before being stopped by police.

Hill said Warner was deeply remorseful and would seek leniency during sentencing, while acknowledging that he expected to be treated like any other citizen. The court is scheduled to sentence Warner on August 18.

The guilty plea has raised uncertainty over Warner's future as Sydney Thunder captain. The Big Bash League franchise has yet to comment on the development

Following Warner's arrest earlier this year, Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon described the allegations as "concerning".

"At Cricket NSW, we are strong advocates for safe driving, not drink-driving," Germon said.

Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and the NSW Blues are all involved in a New South Wales government campaign aimed at discouraging drink-driving.

Warner was arrested shortly after returning from the subcontinent, where he captained Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League.

The former Australia batter was originally handed a lifetime leadership ban for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. That sanction was lifted in 2024, paving the way for him to be appointed Sydney Thunder captain later that year.