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David Warner's Helicopter Fallout: Cricket Australia, Sydney Thunder To Jointly Foot $5,000 Bill - Report

Former Australia opener David Warner arrived in a helicopter at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Big Bash League encounter between his franchise Sydney Thunder and local rivals Sydney Sixers. Thunder lost the match and crashed out of the tournament

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File photo of Australian cricketer David Warner in action for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
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After a fulfilling farewell Test that resulted in Australia's victory, David Warner had another eye-catching event lined up as an extension of the celebrations of his Test and ODI retirement. The diminutive top-order batter arrived in a helicopter at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Big Bash League encounter between his franchise Sydney Thunder and local rivals Sydney Sixers. (More Cricket News)

But the aftermath of that event has apparently not been as delightful. While Thunder lost the match and are now out of play-off reckoning, the 45-minute flight cost $5,000 and the bill will have to be borne by Cricket Australia and the Thunder jointly, according to a Daily Mail report. 

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The report adds that Warner had suggested before the game that he was going to pay for the fancy helicopter landing himself. But the picture afterwards appears to be entirely different.

The 37-year-old had flown in straight from his brother's wedding in the Hunter Valley, with the chopper will touching down on the outfield near the 'Thanks Dave' logo, which was painted for his swansong Test at his home ground in Sydney. 

But that was about all the cheer he could bring for his franchise's supporters, as the Sydney Thunder slumped to a 19-run defeat that ended their BBL campaign. The Sixers posted 151/7 in the first innings and in reply, Thunder could only muster 132. Warner top-scored with a 39-ball 37 but that was not enough to avert the season-ending loss for his side.    

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