Warner’s drink driving matter adjourned until June 24 as lawyer admits star cricketer made a “foolish” decision

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Former Australia opener David Warner has found himself back in the headlines for the wrong reasons after his drink driving case was mentioned in a Sydney court on Thursday. Warner’s lawyer admitted the veteran batter acted “recklessly and foolishly” when he chose to drive after drinking wine with friends on Easter Sunday.

The 39-year-old was not required to appear in Waverley Local Court, where the matter was quickly adjourned until June 24. However, his lawyer Bobby Hill indicated that Warner is expected to enter a guilty plea when the case returns to court later this month.

According to police, Warner was stopped in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on April 5 after returning a positive roadside alcohol test. He was then taken to Maroubra Police Station for further testing, where he allegedly recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.104 — more than double the legal limit in New South Wales. The former Australian vice-captain has since been charged with mid-range drink driving.

Outside court, Hill said Warner accepted full responsibility for his actions and deeply regretted his decision to get behind the wheel instead of taking alternative transport home.

“He knows what he did was wrong,” Hill said. “It was a reckless decision and a foolish decision to drive instead of taking an Uber.”

Hill explained that Warner had consumed three glasses of wine while catching up with friends at an apartment before making the decision to drive. He also claimed Warner’s final drink had been consumed shortly before police stopped him, while questioning the length of time taken before the secondary breath analysis was conducted.

Despite those comments, Warner’s legal team stressed that the cricketer was remorseful and understood the seriousness of the offence. Hill said the case should serve as a reminder about the dangers of relying on personal judgment after consuming alcohol.

The incident has also placed Warner’s leadership role with the Sydney Thunder under scrutiny. Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said the allegations were “concerning” and confirmed the organisation was treating the matter seriously.

Warner had recently returned from the Pakistan Super League, where he captained the Karachi Kings and enjoyed an excellent tournament with the bat. The aggressive left-hander averaged more than 51 during the competition, continuing to prove his value in franchise cricket around the world.

One of Australia’s most explosive opening batters, Warner retired from Test cricket in 2024 after an outstanding international career. He scored 8786 runs in 112 Tests at an average above 44, including 26 centuries and a memorable unbeaten 335 against Pakistan.

However, Warner’s career has also been marked by controversy. In 2018, he was one of the central figures in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa involving Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft. The incident led to a 12-month suspension from cricket and a long-term leadership ban, although that restriction was later lifted to allow him to captain Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

Warner’s case will return to court on June 24, where further proceedings are expected to continue.