Dave Warner's virtual tour of Las Vegas White picket fence: Warner and girlfriend Candice Falzon. It was the trip to Sin City that never was. In a year in which David Warner has bounced from one controversy to another, he copped additional heat for taking off to Las Vegas to party last month while NSW players prepared for the domestic season. Warner issued a tweet at the time indicating he was en route to the gambling mecca - "Vegas bound now!! See you all in five days!! I was in the rocky's!!! Haha" - and later sent out a picture from inside a casino, saying: "Mmmm it's almost that time!!!" It turns out that the holiday was a hoax. The real story is this: the 26-year-old was meant to go on a planned visit to Vegas, having had a week off approved by Cricket Australia. It was going to be a 60th birthday present for his father, who was to go with him. But because he was then asked to play in the NSW City versus Country game, where the Blues squad is split up for an internal pre-season trial, the holiday went down the tube. The word is that so did a fair chunk of cash Warner had dished out in booked accommodation. Instead, he settled for a quieter weekend on Queensland's Hayman Island and continued to train, which appears to be paying off handsomely after another brilliant century on Thursday. After having to shelve a trip a long time in the making, it's hard to blame him for living vicariously through his Twitter profile. Big brother all a-twitter Speaking of Warner and social media, it can be revealed that one of the off-field stars of the Ashes - his brother Steve - is back on Twitter. A former top junior, Steve Warner created a storm in July when he publicly tagged Shane Watson "f---ing selfish" and a "great pretender" as Australia unravelled at Lord's. He also memorably said sacked coach Mickey Arthur had been made an "escape goat." The elder Warner went to ground afterwards but now has a new account, from which he toasted the opener's emphatic return to form in the domestic one-day competition. He said the Test opener had lost 11 kilograms through his extra pre-season training, which has included 5am wake-up calls, almost as early as Dave's ironwoman girlfriend Candice Falzon. Sampson the mimer Cricket Australia was craving as much attention on the Ryobi Cup as possible but probably not this kind. The tournament went viral on Thursday thanks to footage of a high-profile spectator, Channel Nine sports presenter Yvonne Sampson, appearing to simulate a sex act while in animated conversation with friends on the hill at North Sydney Oval. She was there watching a game between Queensland and Victoria last week and Nine's cameras focused on her at exactly the wrong time, just as she was telling a funny story to her mates. Sampson said she was embarrassed but handled it all with grace. I dare say my dating drought might continue after this little unfortunate episode. Sarfraz lets fly Stuart Clark didn't miss NSW manager of state cricket David Thompson during a commentary stint at the Ryobi Cup at the weekend. The Tonk wasn't fast enough to grab a notepad and pen to take it down word for word but the gist of the sledge from the former Blues captain and Sydney Sixers boss was that Thompson's background as a decent lower-grade player didn't necessarily make him a great administrator. Thompson survived the purge at NSW that saw off chief executive David Gilbert, chairman Harry Harinath and coach Anthony Stuart last season. Record Breakers The NSW Breakers start the defence of their Women's National Cricket League and Twenty20 titles this weekend, and for the first time in 16 years they will be without the retired Lisa Sthalekar. Not that they have been battling for runs. Two weeks ago, Alex Blackwell and Rachael Haynes put on 387 runs for the first wicket for Universities against Northern District at the Village Green. Blackwell made 223 and Haynes 168. The second Cummins It was a case of mistaken identity when new Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins did a radio interview shortly after starting the job. Introduced by Graeme Hughes on 2SM, Cummins was asked immediately about the fitness of Wallabies captain James Horwill. "I think you've actually got the wrong Nick Cummins," said the Thunder boss. Cummins, who shares a name with rugby's winger nicknamed the Honey Badger, took the funny episode in his stride. Flash outside off-stump Officials did not see the funny side of an incident last weekend, when a 32-year-old Sydney Shires player was cautioned for leaving a suburban ground during play and urinating on a tree - beside a bus stop. Twitter - @_TheTonk Email - thetonksmh@gmail.com