Australian cricket legend David Warner is here to entertain. Mid way through the blitzkrieg Max60 tournament, currently under way in Grand Cayman, the batsman is already a convert, both to the quick-fire new format and the beautiful backdrop.
“I absolutely love it,” he told the Cayman Compass Wednesday in an interview pitch side at the Jimmy Powell Oval.
The tournament is the Cayman Islands’ first taste of franchise cricket with stars from across the globe entertaining the masses in fast 10-over matches.
One of the top players competing in the mega event, which began Sunday, 18 Aug., Australian opener Warner is arguably the biggest star.
Warner, 37, who retired from international cricket in January after an incredible career at the top level in all formats of the game, said he thought: Why not play some fast cricket while enjoying an island in the Caribbean?
“It’s my first time here in the Cayman Islands and I absolutely love it,” Warner said. “The people in general, absolutely amazing, the food’s awesome, the vibe’s awesome and I’m definitely coming back.”
Warner is a part of the Boca Raton Trailblazers in the five-team tournament which offers a rare opportunity for Cayman cricketers to play alongside professionals.
The 15 Cayman players divided across five squads have been on the pitch alongside superstars, also including England’s Alex Hales.
When asked to share his thoughts on the abilities of the Cayman players, Warner responded, “The locals are great.”
He added, “It’s great for them to be part of this and they are learning. So, whenever you get players from other countries and areas that participate in these tournaments, they are taking that away and feeding it down to their friends, their teammates.”
There is arguably no other player in the tournament as decorated as Warner, who offers an abundance of experience that Cayman players can learn from.
He was a part of the Australian team that won the ODI World Cup twice, in 2015 and 2023. He also won the T20 World Cup in 2021 and the World Test Championship in 2022.
Now he is planning to add a T10 title to his extended resume. But the shorter format is really all for fun, Warner said.
“I think it’s great, we talk about entertainment and that’s exactly what this format brings, a lot of fours and sixes but also you are going to see some high skill from bowlers. It actually helps your game,” he said, noting that while it’s all about entertainment, the format can aid cricketers power-hitting game.
“I think the most exciting thing about it is you get three games in one day, so you’re getting a full variety of a couple different teams playing at the one venue and you’ll see a lot of different quality players.”
The tournament, scheduled to conclude with the final on 25 Aug., is televised throughout the cricket-playing world, according to BMP Sports, organisers of the event.
BMP plans to run Caribbean Max60 tournaments at least twice a year in Cayman going forward, with hopes of establishing a local youth academy and refurbishing the Jimmy Powell Oval, which Warner said reminds him of home.
“The venue is fantastic,” Warner said.
“They’ve only had like six months to try and get it all up and running and so far they’ve done an absolutely amazing job. These are the kind of fields I played on back home at club cricket.”
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