Disgraced former Australia vice-captain David Warner apologised for his part in the ball-tampering scandal at a press conference in Sydney on Saturday.
Warner, along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, admitted to ball tampering during the third Test against the Proteas at Newlands.
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The Australian batsman came up with the idea to use sandpaper to alter the shape of the ball, which his opening partner, Bancroft, acted out.
‘I would like to thank you all for coming this morning. To the fans and lovers of the game that have inspired me, I want to sincerely apologise for betraying your trust,’ said Warner, reading from a prepared statement.
‘I have let you down badly. I hope in time I can find a way to repay [you] for all you have given me and possibly earn your respect again.
‘To [my] teammates and support staff, I apologise for my actions and I take full responsibility for my part on what happened on day three.
‘To Cricket Australia, I apologise for my actions and the effect it has had on our game under your care and control. I want you to know that I fully support your review in the culture of the Australian cricket team.
‘To South Africa, the players, administrators and fans, I apologise unreservedly for my part in this and I’m sorry. I have brought the game into disrepute on your soil. South Africa is a fine cricketing nation. And deserves better from its guests and deserves better from me.
’To all Australians, whether you are a cricket fan or not, I apologise for my actions. And I’m sorry for the impact those actions have had on our country’s reputation.’
The 31-year-old accepted the possibility that he could never play for Australia again and cried when mentioning his family.
‘Right now it is hard to know what comes next, but first and foremost is the well-being of my family. In the back of my mind, I suppose there is a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again but I am resigned to the fact that that may never happen.
‘But in the coming weeks and months, I’m going to look at how this has happened and who I am as a man. To be honest I’m not sure right now how I will do this. I will seek out advice and seek expertise to help me make serious changes.’
Warner then offered to take questions from the media, only to refuse to answer them directly.
He repeated the same lines from his press conference in parrot-like fashion.
