David Warner Fined for Drink-Driving Case in Sydney

Former Australia batter David Warner has been fined A$1,500 (£1,109) and ordered to fit an interlock device on his car after pleading guilty to drink-driving in Sydney.

The 39-year-old failed a random breath test on Easter Sunday while driving his family home from a social event also recording a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. The court heard Warner stopped after spotting a roadside checkpoint and tried to swap seats with a female passenger.

Appearing before Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, Warner was ordered to install the interlock device which stops a car from starting if alcohol is detected. Judge Clare Farnan said she accepted Warner was unlikely to reoffend but noted drink-driving remains a major cause of crashes in New South Wales. She added that the offence was more serious because children were in the vehicle.

Warner's lawyer argued he should avoid a formal conviction also citing damage to his commercial opportunities from media coverage. The judge did not spare him a conviction.

Warner retired from international cricket in 2024 and now works as a commentator for Fox Sports Australia, recently covering Bangladesh's historic Test win over Australia in Darwin. He also captains Pakistan Super League side Karachi Kings and Big Bash League's Sydney Thunder a team involved in a New South Wales government campaign against drink-driving.

Cricket NSW, which owns the Thunder said it takes the incident seriously and continues educating players on safe driving.

Across his international career Warner scored 6,932 ODI runs with 22 centuries and 8,786 Test runs with 26 hundreds.