David Warner should expect a different reception at Lord’s to the one he received during the 2023 Ashes after being drafted by the London Spirit in The Hundred at the age of 38.
Coached by former Australian mentor Justin Langer, the Spirit is based at Lord’s where Warner famously clashed with members after Alex Carey’s controversial run-out of Jonny Bairstow during the second Test nearly two years ago.
In the wake of the clash, the MCC expelled one member and suspended two others after their altercation with Usman Khawaja and Warner amid ugly and unprecedented scenes as they tried to make their way to the Australian dressing room.
The members were found to have used “abusive, offensive or inappropriate behaviour or language”, with one member suspended for 4½ years in the aftermath.
But there was no fear for the Spirit in taking Warner, who was given one of just 10 final international player spots for the competition, possibly on the back of his brilliant turn as captain of the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, signed on a deal worth close to $250,000.
Warner, who had his captaincy ban lifted to take the Thunder position, was the second leading run-scorer in the competition, only passed in the final that his Thunder lost in Hobart.
But while Warner earnt a spot, Glenn Maxwell wasn’t drafted, nor was Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy.
Georgia Voll, who replaced Healy when she was injured and made an ODI century in her second game for Australia, was the first player to be snapped up by Edgbaston-based Birmingham Phoenix
Voll is red-hot, coming off a stunning series of innings in the Women’s Premier League in India after being a late call-up to the UP Warriorz.
She recorded the equal highest score ever in the WPL annals, 99 not out, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE HUNDRED
Birmingham Phoenix
Women: Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll
London Spirit
Women: Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne
Men: David Warner, Ashton Turner, Dan Worrall
Manchester Originals
Women: Beth Mooney
Northern Superchargers
Women: Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Wareham
Men: Ben Dwarshuis
Oval Invincibles
Women: Meg Lanning, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Men: Jason Behrendorff
Trent Rockets
Women: Ash Gardner, Alana King, Heather Graham
Men: Marcus Stoinis
Welsh Fire
Women: Jess Jonassen
Men: Steve Smith, Chris Green, Riley Meredith