Retired Australian international cricket batter David Warner, one of the nation’s most recognizable cricketing talents of the last 15 years, has been charged with a mid-range drink-driving offense following a random breath test in Sydney’s eastern suburb of Maroubra. New South Wales Police confirmed the arrest in a formal statement on Monday, detailing the sequence of events that unfolded on Sunday.
According to police authorities, officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were operating a random breath testing checkpoint when they spotted a van stop short of the testing zone and park. When law enforcement approached the vehicle to conduct a standard roadside test, the driver — identified as 39-year-old Warner — returned an initial positive result for alcohol consumption.
Warner was then taken into custody and transported to the nearby Maroubra Police Station for a second, more formal blood alcohol test. The subsequent reading came back at 0.104, which is more than double the legal limit of 0.05 set for full-license drivers in New South Wales. The charge of mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol applies to readings between 0.08 and 0.149 under state law, carrying potential penalties including fines, license suspension and possible court-mandated community service.
The former international opening batter is scheduled to appear at Waverley Local Court on May 7 to face the charge. The arrest and charge come months after Warner wrapped up a 15-year international cricket career that spanned 383 appearances across Test, One Day International and Twenty20 formats for Australia between 2009 and 2024. He earned widespread acclaim for his aggressive batting style, played a key role in four ICC T20 World Cup title wins for Australia, and retired as one of the nation’s top run-scorers in modern Test cricket.
The 39-year-old has remained active in professional franchise cricket since hanging up his international boots, and currently serves as captain of the Karachi Kings side competing in the ongoing Pakistan Super League. The franchise is scheduled to face off against Peshawar Zalmi in their next league match on April 9, and it remains unclear as of press time whether the legal matter will impact Warner’s participation in the fixture.