David Warner has less than a five percent chance to play in the Big Bash, reveals his manager

After serving a one-year ban for ball-tampering, David Warner has returned to full flow and has been playing non-stop cricket for the past few months. Starting off with the IPL which he ended as the tournament’s leading run-getter, Warner played a starring role for Australia in the World Cup. He scored 646 runs and fell only a run short of Rohit Sharma’s record total.

Next in line for him is the upcoming Ashes in England where he will be without a doubt playing all the five Tests, fitness permitting. With further international series scheduled after that against the likes of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and New Zealand, he is unlikely to turn up for the final few weeks of the BBL in favour of taking some time off from the game.

"The chances of him playing are slim due to the amount of cricket he might have played," Warner's manager James Erskine told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The BBL has been cut short by two weeks following feedback received from fans and broadcasters. The move will also allow more international cricketers to play for franchises, particularly in the final few weeks after a change in the format during which the Australians will be on break from international duty. However, his manager feels Warner might not opt for playing.

"He might play a bit of club cricket to keep his eye in but by the time he finishes the Ashes he'll be well dusted,” Erskine stated.

Melbourne Stars had revealed earlier in the year they were ready to go all out in the pursuit of Warner and were willing to offer hefty wages to sign him. 

"Fox Sports and several teams want him but if I was a betting man my gut feeling would be that there is less than a five per cent chance to play in the Big Bash,” Erskine added.

"My advice to him has been rest. He's played IPL, World Cup, Ashes, then Tests here and the summer season. My advice to him is "don't burn yourself out" and I think that's the right advice. If someone comes up with an offer he can't refuse we'll look at it but we'll just see,” the manager concluded, not completely enying the possibility of Warner turning up for the cash-rich league.