Warner empties pockets to win Edgbaston crowd

Warner was playing his first Test after serving a one-year ban following the infamous ‘sandpapergate’ in Cape Town last year. The opener was fielding in front of the Hollies Stand on Saturday when the crowd started shouting: “He’s got sandpaper in his hands!”

Warner also acknowledged the crowd by opening both his palms to show that there was nothing in his hands before emptying his pockets too, following which the crowd gave him a loud and heartfelt round of applause.

The first Ashes Test hasn’t gone well for Warner as he could only manage scores of 2 and 8 in the two innings.

Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft are playing their first Test after serving their respective bans. All the two times when opener Warner and Bancroft came out in the middle to open the innings for Australia, they received a hostile reception from the crowd.

The Edgbaston crowd waved sandpapers at them and also carried a poster which read, ‘Aussies Cheats’.