Cricket: AM hosts disagree over Wellington booing Australia's David Warner

As he's done for his whole career, David Warner continues to divide cricket watchers on his final tour of New Zealand.   

Since his debut in 2009, Warner has polarised fans both at home and abroad.   

Despite boasting one of the great records in cricket, as the first and so far only player to win 100 caps across all three formats for Australia, the 37-year-old has always had turbulent relationship with international communities.   

In 2013, he was dropped from Australia's Champions Trophy side for punching England batter Joe Root in a nightclub. 

Two years later, he was captured by stump microphones telling India's Rohit Sharma to "speak English" during an on-field spat.   

By far, his biggest controversy came in 2018, when Warner was the chief architect of the Australian ball-tampering scandal and instructed junior teammate Cam Bancroft to sandpaper the ball in South Africa.   

That incident saw Warner banned from the sport for one year and disallowed from holding a leadership role within the Australian team for life.   

Even before that, though, Warner has never had an easy run from Kiwi fans.   

In 2016, he complained about the abuse he received in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, saying it was "pretty derogatory and vulgar". 

Speaking on Monday, Warner made it clear he still holds resentment towards New Zealand crowds over his treatment, eight years on.

And taking the field in Wellington on Wednesday, where Australia opened their Twenty20 series against the Blackcaps with a seven-wicket win, Warner was again booed by fans.   

However, the Australian opener got his own back, and blew a kiss to those gathered at Sky Stadium as he departed.   

Speaking on Thursday, AM hosts Lloyd Burr, Melissa Chan-Green and Michael O'Keeffe gave varying responses to whether or not booing Warner was acceptable.   

"He's a polarising guy," said Burr, "he cheated, had a comeback and then he made a dig at Oamaru the other day."   

"There's a specific time and place for booing," added Chan-Green. "[It's ok] when the person you're booing is in on it, and it's all a bit of fun.   

"I'm on the fence about David Warner, he can take it."   

Meanwhile, as a former Olympic footballer, O'Keeffe saw things differently.   

"Is it fair enough?" he questioned. "I don't agree with booing.   

"I wouldn't teach my kid to boo, even if it's someone I really don't like.   

"Whatever happened, happened a long time ago. When he came in 2016, that was still very raw. 

"Are we past that now?"  

Both teams have now travelled to Auckland for games two and three of the series, to be played at Eden Park on Friday and Sunday.

Warner is currently in his last days as an Australian cricketer and will retire from internationals after this year's Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.

As he's done for his whole career, David Warner continues to divide cricket watchers on his final tour of New Zealand.   

Since his debut in 2009, Warner has polarised fans both at home and abroad.   

Despite boasting one of the great records in cricket, as the first and so far only player to win 100 caps across all three formats for Australia, the 37-year-old has always had turbulent relationship with international communities.   

In 2013, he was dropped from Australia's Champions Trophy side for punching England batter Joe Root in a nightclub. 

Two years later, he was captured by stump microphones telling India's Rohit Sharma to "speak English" during an on-field spat.   

By far, his biggest controversy came in 2018, when Warner was the chief architect of the Australian ball-tampering scandal and instructed junior teammate Cam Bancroft to sandpaper the ball in South Africa.   

That incident saw Warner banned from the sport for one year and disallowed from holding a leadership role within the Australian team for life.   

Even before that, though, Warner has never had an easy run from Kiwi fans.   

In 2016, he complained about the abuse he received in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, saying it was "pretty derogatory and vulgar". 

Speaking on Monday, Warner made it clear he still holds resentment towards New Zealand crowds over his treatment, eight years on.

And taking the field in Wellington on Wednesday, where Australia opened their Twenty20 series against the Blackcaps with a seven-wicket win, Warner was again booed by fans.   

However, the Australian opener got his own back, and blew a kiss to those gathered at Sky Stadium as he departed.   

Speaking on Thursday, AM hosts Lloyd Burr, Melissa Chan-Green and Michael O'Keeffe gave varying responses to whether or not booing Warner was acceptable.   

"He's a polarising guy," said Burr, "he cheated, had a comeback and then he made a dig at Oamaru the other day."   

"There's a specific time and place for booing," added Chan-Green. "[It's ok] when the person you're booing is in on it, and it's all a bit of fun.   

"I'm on the fence about David Warner, he can take it."   

Meanwhile, as a former Olympic footballer, O'Keeffe saw things differently.   

"Is it fair enough?" he questioned. "I don't agree with booing.   

"I wouldn't teach my kid to boo, even if it's someone I really don't like.   

"Whatever happened, happened a long time ago. When he came in 2016, that was still very raw. 

"Are we past that now?"  

Both teams have now travelled to Auckland for games two and three of the series, to be played at Eden Park on Friday and Sunday.

Warner is currently in his last days as an Australian cricketer and will retire from internationals after this year's Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.

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