New era | ‘Tampering with balls will never go away’

David Warner says he will forever be tarnished by the 2018 ‘Sandpaper-gate’ scandal as the Australian opener reflects on his legacy ahead of impending international retirement.

The divisive 37-year-old is looking to peak with T20 World Cup triumphs in the West Indies and the United States, with Australia reaching the Super Eight stages.

Australia’s leading run-scorer in T20 cricket has said the World Cup will be the capstone of his international playing career.

Speaking to reporters in Antigua, Warner acknowledged that the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa six years ago will always be mentioned alongside his exploits with the bat.

“I think it will be inevitable that when people talk about me in 20 or 30 years’ time, there will always be a sandpaper scandal,” Warner said, according to Cricket Australia.

Along with then skipper Steve Smith, Warner was banned for a year for his part in the third Test debacle in Cape Town, with Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to sand the ball before making a crude attempt to hide the evidence in his trousers.

Warner was the main conspirator and Cricket Australia stripped him of the vice-captaincy.

With his time at the top coming to an end, Warner said he felt he was being unfairly singled out for the affair.

“Whether it’s people who don’t like the Australian cricket team or don’t like me, I’ve always been that person who has addressed it,” Warner said.

“It’s fine if they want to do that, but I always feel like I’ve taken a lot of pressure off a lot of guys as well and I think understandably I’ve been that person to absorb that.”

For that reason, the batsman said he was looking forward to an international retirement.

“You can only absorb (so much),” he said.

“For me, it’s great to go out knowing I won’t live to see it again.”