David Warner brings down the Aussie cricket team with a ‘trip to Bali’…but all is not as it seems

Australian cricketer David Warner is currently unable to score and faces the ax – but he still found time to mock the media and scare the national team ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

The under pressure batsman, 36, posted pictures on Monday from an Instagram story featuring his daughter, along with photos from the Ayana Resort, a luxury hotel in Bali.

It led many to believe Warner had flown to Indonesia to reset – despite the Test being just days away at the MCG.

Cricket Australia’s senior staff were hit with six questions about Warner’s apparent absence, with bowling coach Dan Vettori scowling when asked if the ‘Bull’ was still on the ground.

Team media manager Cole Hitchcock stepped in and said “he’s not in Bali” but wasn’t 100 percent sure, adding he would “check it out, but I highly doubt it.”

It was later confirmed that Warner is in Sydney.

The “joke” was directed at a friend of Warner’s, and the photos in Monday’s Instagram story are dated December 19, 2022 – despite being taken over a year ago.

Australian cricket star David Warner raised eyebrows after apparently jetting off to Bali for a quick getaway ahead of his 100th Test career (pictured with his two daughters)

Warner later posted a photo of The Rock Bar in Bali, part of the luxury Ayana Resort – but it’s an old photo

What a comedian.

The needless distraction from Pat Cummins’ team perhaps gives an insight into Warner’s fragile mind as he faces the drop ahead of his 100th Test.

While machines MarnusLabuschagne and Steve Smith spent more time in the nets honing their skills with bowling coach Vettori, funny man Warner was posting from Coogee Beach in Sydney’s east on Tuesday.

Warner then told his 9.6 million followers in his latest Instagram story that he had gone grocery shopping before offering some life advice – “don’t be fooled”.

Perhaps playing mind games with reporters is more important to Warner than keeping his place in Australia’s XI?

In the first match of the series at the Gabba, the left-hander took just 0 and 3 against the Proteas.

He never looked comfortable in the Brisbane crease and calls have increased for him to be axed.

Warner hasn’t scored a Test century since January 2020, averaging 26.07 with the bat, and while Labuschagne, Smith and Travis Head are making runs for fun, the Randwick Petersham junior is hardly troubling the scorers.

Warner took 0-3 against South Africa in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane

Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada removed Warner in both his innings at the Gabba in the first Test

National selector George Bailey has backed Warner to end his form.

“Personally, I think there are runs around the corner for him,” he said.

“Without a doubt, and David would be the first to say this, he would like to get a few more runs and contribute a bit more, knowing the importance of that role at the top of the order.

“But I have every confidence that it will.” He moves well. He sticks well. When people start longing for a better way to express a thing, the catch goes, the movement goes.

“But he’s still an excellent fielder, still suitable as a fiddle.”

Aussie cricket great Ricky Ponting believes Warner deserves to bow out on his own terms.

“He’s a master player who will never be written off,” Ponting told Channel 7.

Former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell (left) has called for Warner to quit Test cricket, but Ricky Ponting (right) believes the opener should be given another chance

Warner averages just 21.64 this year and has not scored a Test century since January 2020

– When he quits, he deserves to continue during his term. He has been a wonderful Australian cricketer.

“He deserves a chance to end the way he wants.”

Former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell disagreed, believing that Warner should retire from Test cricket before being dropped.

“I think he (Warner) would consider and possibly retire after the Sydney Test,” O’Donnell told SEN Radio.

– We are not talking about David Warner in the last few innings, we are talking about David Warner in the last two years, he has not been the same player as he was then.

“It shows me that if David finds form again, it won’t take long.”