David Warner showed us last week he knows how to make an exit – and here’s proof he knows how to make an entrance, too.
Days after retiring from Test cricket, the Daily Telegraph reports the Aussie great will use Sydney’s $874 million Allianz Stadium as a helipad to ensure he can play in the Sydney Smash BBL clash between the Thunder and the Sixers on Friday night.
Warner is one of a number of national stars returning to the Big Bash this week, with Alex Carey featuring for the Strikers on Tuesday, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne named for the Heat on Wednesday, and Steve Smith set to return to the Sixers on Friday.
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But Warner also has to attend his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley during the day, which has necessitated the extraordinary measures.
He will race from the ceremony to Cessnock Airport and then take the helicopter to the Moore Park precinct where the Allianz Stadium turf looms as the best landing space.
Warner’s current plan would involve landing at 5pm after a 45-minute flight, giving him two hours before the BBL match begins.
However light showers are forecast for Sydney on Friday which could delay him.
“I’ve got a couple of aircraft booked pending weather,” Warner said after the Test against Pakistan.
“I can’t remember how long the reception or the wedding party (goes for) … it’s a fine line.
“I think (the wedding venue is) about a 45-minute drive from Cessnock. It might be tight but I’m trying my best to try and make it work for that day.”
The Thunder are mathematically alive in the BBL finals race but would need to win all three of their remaining games and have other results go their way to qualify.
The Sixers are almost certain to qualify already but would officially clinch a finals place with a win.
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