Steve Smith and David Warner will not be playing Australia’s home series against India after the country’s cricket board announced on Tuesday, 20 November, that the year-long bans handed out to them after the ball tampering fiasco in South Africa in March, will stand.
After a string of below par performances by the Australian team since March where they have won just five out of 21 matches across formats – two of them over Zimbabwe – voices have only grown louder to let the former skipper and his vice-captain back into the team.
It would have allowed the duo as well as batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was given a nine-month ban, to return to competitive cricket earlier than stipulated.
The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) had made a submission in this regard, to which Cricket Australia responded in negative.
“Steve Smith and David Warner will not return to top-level cricket until the current home summer is completed after the Cricket Australia Board unanimously agreed not to alter penalties imposed over the ball-tampering incident,” the board announced after their meeting on 19 November.
Cricket Australia's board had met on 19 November to consider a submission lodged by the Australian Cricketers' Association on behalf of the banned pair and their teammate Cameron Bancroft, which called for the suspension to be immediately lifted and the three players be allowed to resume their careers.
CA maintains that both the length and nature of the sanctions remain an appropriate response in light of the considerable impact on the reputation of Australian cricket, here and abroad. Steve, David and Cameron are working hard to demonstrate their commitment to cricket and have our continued support to ensure their pathway to return is as smooth as possible.Interim Chair Earl Edding
A 12-month ban had been imposed on Smith and Warner which subsequently meant they won’t be available for selection for Australia, New South Wales or Big Bash League. However, both the cricketers have retained by Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, for the next edition of the Indian Premier League, the starting date of which is yet to be announced.
There have also been talks of an ODI series between Australia and Pakistan to be pushed to April, so the currently-banned cricketers can get some match practice.
The Aussie duo will be available for selection after 30 March, just two days after the Australian summer’s last match – the JLT Sheffield Shield Final – gets underway.
Steve Smith and David Warner were banned for a year and Cameron Bancroft for nine months as a result of the ball-scuffing fiasco in Cape Town in March.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)